Puebla, the fourth-largest city in Mexico, provides an exceptional blend of history, culture, and attractions unique from other Mexican destinations. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage city, Puebla boasts an impressive 2,619 historical monuments, the highest number in the Western Hemisphere.
The city is renowned for its perfectly preserved colonial architecture, making it a favored filming location for movies such as “Frida,” “Man on Fire,” and “Vantage Point.” In a fascinating historical discovery, stone tunnels were uncovered beneath the city during urban renovations in 2015. These tunnels extend ten kilometers and were historically used to transport church treasures and facilitate the movement of soldiers during the 1862 Battle of Puebla. Visitors can explore these tunnels every day except Mondays.
Puebla’s founding is steeped in legend, with tales of Bishop Julián Garcés’s 1531 vision of angels guiding him to the current valley. This connection earned Puebla its original name, Puebla de los Angeles, and its coat of arms, which features a castle protected by angels.
The city is rich in cultural attractions such as the Callejón de los Sapos (Alley of the Frogs), which becomes an antiques bazaar every Sunday. Puebla also uniquely offers pasita, a raisin-based liquor invented in 1916, traditionally paired with a small cube of cheese.
Culinary enthusiasts will find Puebla enticing as the birthplace of mole poblano. This dish, allegedly created in 1680 by nuns at the Convent of Santa Rosa, was made to welcome an unexpected visiting archbishop.
Puebla holds industrial significance as well, being home to the largest Volkswagen factory outside Germany. Notably, this plant produced the 20 millionth Beetle in 1981 and the final classic Beetle in 2003.
For history buffs, Puebla offers direct connections to the Mexican Revolution. The Serdán family home, now a museum, preserves history with bullet holes from November 18, 1910, when the first shots of the revolution were fired during a government raid.
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