City of Puebla

The city of Puebla, officially Heroic Puebla de Zaragoza (nicknamed Angelópolis) is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Puebla. The city has a population of 1,399,519 (the municipality, 1,485,941). The metropolitan area of the city, however, extends over 10 municipalities of the state of Puebla, such as the city of Cholula and 13 of the state of Tlaxcala, and with a population of 2,109,049 it is fourth most populous metropolitan area in Mexico. Puebla is an important industrial, cultural and educational center of Mexico for the central and south-east regions. It is also one of the oldest colonial cities in the continent.

In a broad, high valley about 60 miles southeast of Mexico City is a city known by many names over the years: City of Angels, City of Tiles, Heroic City of Zaragoza. Today we know it as simply Puebla.

Established by the Spanish in 1531 on the main route between the port of Veracruz, (the most important port in Mexico) and Mexico City, Puebla was the principal city of colonial Mexico. Puebla's appearance is the most European of all the colonial cities, because it was planned from the ground up by a Spanish city designer rather than being built within an existing Indian community.

By 1539, Puebla had a university and was on its way to becoming well-known throughout Mexico for milling, textiles, exquisitely decorated pottery and tiles, and for the architectural beauty of its buildings.

Although modern Puebla is highly industrialized, its historic downtown remains a Spanish-colonial treasure filled with elegant 17th and 18th century European architecture and art. When you add a temperate climate year-around, friendly and courteous residents (called poblanos) and delicious regional cuisine, Puebla becomes the ideal place to learn Spanish.

Recommended Puebla Restaurants

Tacos Tony's - 3 Pontente # 149 Planta Baja Colonial Centro. (Corner of 3 Sur and 3 Pontente.)  Carne asada (beef) only with three different types of bread:  Corn tortilla, Arabe, which is a large flour tortilla and torta, which is a soft tasty thick bread bun.

The Sultan tacqueria on Cinco de Mayo near where it intersects with the Puebla Zocolo is also excellent.  Order a "torta," which is carne asada in a soft tasty thick bun -- delicious.  For a soda to go along with your torta, try a manzanilla, a carbonated apple flavored beverage.  Don't know why this drink is not available in the States; it's great!

Walk out the front door of the Hotel San Angel and turn left.  At the first corner, cross the street and on the same side of 4 Poiniente you are on, you'll see another very small, but excellent tacqueria.  Try their freshly prepared tortas.

Vitorio's located on the perimeter of the zocolo.  Great variety of food, i.e., pizza, steak, Italian dishes, great pasta dishes, super salads, etc.  Seating is available indoors or outdoors on the street.  Try their small serving of chicken soup with rice.  I especially like their Caesar Salad.  This restaurant allows an excellent view of the activities that are always festive on the Puebla town square.

Colonial Hotel - If you're looking for beautiful decor, great food and excellent service in a location convenient to the Puebla market, try the restaurant in the Colonial.  The food is upscale Mexican with great salads, soups, meats, etc.  You may order off an al la carte menu or off a daily fixed price menu.  This hotel is more upscale than Hotel San Angel, but a single room will cost you around $570 pesos per night.

Recommended Puebla Hotels

Hotel San Angel is popular with mission teams.  It is located on 4 Poniente in Centro Puebla.  It is a great location with single rooms costing around $33 US per night.  It also has a good restaurant for breakfast.  Telephone: 011-52-222-232-2766.

Hotel Santo Domingo is a hostel located just one block toward the market from Hotel San Angel.  The price is super inexpensive, but be prepared to pay extra for soap, shampoo, towels, sheets and blankets.  Even with all of the extras, it is still very inexpensive.  No restaurant.  The hotel opened in 2005, so it is quite new and clean.  The manager speaks English.

Hotel Colonial located at 4 Sur 105 is much more upscale than either of the two above hotels, but a single room runs around $570 pesos per night.  The hotel is located in the heart of the historical district near the market and one block from the zocolo. www.colonial.com.mx Reservations: 01-800-013-0000

Holiday Inn is located on 2 Poinente near the market.  Cost is approximately $800 pesos per night.

Shopping in Puebla

Parian Market is located at 6 Norte, between 2 and 4 Oriente just a few blocks from the zocolo.  This is a very popular market for souvenirs, silver jewelry, Talavera pottery, t-shirts, Mexican blankets, etc.

Open Air Bus Tours

From the zocolo (main town square) open air bus tours leave approximately every 1-1/2 hours.  This is a beautiful tour of the city that includes a drive by Cinco de Mayo, where the Mexican army defeated the French on May 5, 1862, upscale residential communities and other attractions of the beautiful City of Puebla.  Several of the seats on the bus have ear phone connections with an English translation of the tour guide's comments.  Cost of the tour is $70 pesos.

Tour and Trip to Cholula

Transtour can be arranged from desk clerk at Hotel San Angel.  This is a tour that lasts approximately 3-1/2 hours and includes three unusual churches.  The tour company uses a nice 14-passenger van and costs $15 US. This tour is recommended by Marshall Sansbury of Lighthouse Fellowship in Fort Worth, TX.