The city of Puebla is a colorful mix of customs and history with abundant traditions and impressive architecture in Herrerian, Renaissance, and Neo-Classical styles; its fine cuisine, local candies, artists’ quarters and museums all evoke its epic past. According to historical research, the city – formally known as the Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza – was first used by the Spanish crown as a staging post between Veracruz and Mexico to help them govern the area. On April 16, 1531, Fray Toribio de Benavente officially founded Puebla de los Ángeles. 

A stroll through the historic downtown area will give visitors a taste of the city’s extravagant architecture; more than 5,000 buildings crowned by the Cathedral – listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Former houses of former nobles have either been converted into museums with exhibitions on Mexico’s history or into restaurants and luxury hotels. 

Excursions around the state are highly recommended – the provincial towns preserve their customs and archeological sites, which predate the Spanish conquest. Cantona has squares and avenues with a unique layout, not to mention more than 20 ballgame courts. The archeological site of Cholula boasts one of the largest pre-Hispanic temple foundations in Mexico. 

This region has great ecological diversity: Puebla and Oaxaca share the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, which has a wide range of xerophytic flora. 

Adventures in Puebla come in several forms. Extreme sports enthusiasts can go camping, hiking, and mountain climbing in the state’s national parks such as La Malinche and the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes. Gourmet visitors can delight in the regional dishes, such as chiles en nogada or mole, and widen their culinary experience with gastronomic courses offered by Mexico’s top chefs. Puebla has something for everyone, and a journey here will introduce you to the region’s legends, history, and authentic Mexican flavors.