Upon arriving in Puebla, the city’s colonial architecture is what first catches the newcomer’s eye. Puebla is renowned for its diverse architecture with numerous churches and museums, and one of Mexico’s most important cathedrals located in the city. Hand-painted tiles adorn the buildings of the city, adding to its color and historical richness.

Puebla´s magnificent historic center, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique beauty, offers a comprehensive background on the city’s local and national history. Its streets, churches and buildings are so breathtaking they are said to have been designed by an angel. Travelers can admire majestic churches and convents, colonial doorways and facades, picturesque plazas, patios and historic museums. Renowned landmarks include the cathedral, Palafox Library (the largest in Ibero-America on theology), the Museum of Natural History and Fort Loreto. Other structures in the area worth visiting include the Amparo and Bello museums, the National Railroad Museum and the Puebla Regional Museum of Viceregal Art.

Puebla’s signature handicraft is its world-famous Talavera pottery, hand-painted works of art in the form of dishes, vases, jars and tiles, with Asian, Spanish and Mexican Indian motifs. The art of Talavera pottery in Mexico dates back to over 500 years ago, when the Spaniards taught the craft to the indigenous peoples as the ceramics were needed to adorn the numerous churches that were being built. The original process, which requires great skill and artistic sense, is still used today with modern variations in color and theme. Daily tours of the Uriarte Talavera factory are available in Puebla, with a showroom also located in Mexico City in the upscale Polanco District. Talavera pottery is quite expensive, with each piece being unique and of extraordinary quality. Given its popularity, many cheap imitations exist, but originals indicate they are from Puebla and are signed at the base, identifying the workshop that created the piece.

Puebla is also famous for its cuisine, with world-renowned dishes having originated in this city. The blending of prehispanic and Spanish spices and techniques is behind the richness of the cuisine from Puebla. The famous, mole poblano, a chocolate chile sauce used in white meat dishes, was invented in Puebla, as well as the chiles en nogada (chiles stuffed with meat and covered with a pecan sauce). Restaurants abound in Puebla with a variety of dishes to choose from, but these two are highly recommended. For those who like sweets, Santa Clara Street (La Calle Santa Clara) is lined with specialty sweet shops, featuring cookies, figurines made from marzapan, alfajores and Mexico’s famous camotes (sweet potato rounds).

Antiquing is perhaps one of the most popular pastimes in Puebla, and antique shops as well as an outdoor fair can be found in the Plaza de Los Sapos, a street loaded with all kinds of treasures as well as creations by local artisans.

Puebla State also features several important archaeological sites. The Tenapa Pyramid in Cholula, Puebla, dating back to 400 BC, is one of the most frequently visited sites. The Tenapa Pyramid is four times larger in volume than the Keops Pyramid in Egypt. Several years ago, archaeologists discovered that the pyramid actually consists of several superimposed pyramids, and today, only a small percentage of the pyramid has actually been uncovered. One of the pyramid’s unique features is the Nuestra Señora de los Remedios Church, completed in 1666. Built at the top of the pyramid, the church stands witness to the success of the Catholic Church in the conversion of the indigenous peoples centuries ago.

Puebla also has four of the tallest volcanoes in Mexico, one of which is still active. The second tallest volcano in Mexico, the Popocatepetl, stands at approximately 78,900 feet and on occasion, spews steam, gasses, and ash. Eruptions and tremors also occur from time to time, reminding the Poblanos of its powerful and potentially destructive presence, although the last major eruption happened thousands of years ago. Churches were built centuries ago at the foot of these volcanoes, many of which still stand today.

For those who enjoy outdoor and extreme sports, Puebla State boasts many options from volcano-climbing and camping, to trekking, fishing and mountain-biking, to name a few. The San Baltasar Lagoon is one of many nature reserves that feature special zones for nature walks, biking, camping and boat trips on the lake.

For food and music lovers, Puebla features an annual food festival in November and a concert of bells in October, where more than 100 bells from churches around the area participate.

Puebla also holds a special place in Mexico’s history. In 1862, the ill-equipped Mexican people defeated the French army on May 5, and Cinco de Mayo has since become an international day of celebration.