16 April 1531

First well planned city in the Americas

UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 11 december 1987

Puebla is the first well planned city of the Americas where streets are traced perfectly in rectangular blocks of 100 by 200 Spanish "varas" (Spanish sticks), and where the whole centric district of town is oriented to the movement of sun in the sky. Puebla has preserved large religious buildings, such as the Cathedral dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, magnificent palaces, such as that of the archbishopric, and a large number of houses with tiled walls. The baroque neighborhood of the city is unique in its kind, due to the local adaptation of the new aesthetic concepts arising from the fusion of the architectural and artistic styles of Europe and America. Then Historic Centre of Puebla was declared UNESCO World Heritage in 1987. Puebla historic center construction was mostly performed by Native workers settled in the city or coming from surrounding towns and all workers were paid for their labor and skills. Puebla was settled on the road in between the main port of Mexico, Veracruz, and Mexico City. If you are interested in touring Puebla, PUEBLA CITY TOURS are offered.

1531-now

Multicultural City

During the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, Puebla remained important culturally and economically. It had a thriving textile industry at this time. Immigration from Europe was encouraged and people from Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Lebanon came to live in the city. French "art nouveau" influence still been visible in Puebla downtown’s architecture and culture. Lebanese influenced commerce and tacos. Italian produced cheese and milk for the city. Germans mostly settled in Puebla's "Humboldt" neighborhood where Bavarian style houses and German school "Alexander von Humboldt" were built. Due to German immigration to Puebla, Volkswagen built a large car factory just outside of the city in 1964 to 1967.

1531-now

Culinary Center of Mexico

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 2010

Puebla is also well known because is rich and diverse culinary tradition along other Mexican traditions such as Michoacan, Oaxaca and Yucatan. Therefore, Puebla is recognized as one of the most famous Mexican cuisine traditions: "COCINA POBLANA" (click here for more details PUEBLA FOOD DISHES AND TOUR), and has gotten its worldwide fame from local dishes such as Mole Poblano, Chiles en Nogada, Tinga Poblana, Molotes, Chalupas, Cemitas, Huaxmole, Memelas and more. Check COOKING CLASSES in Puebla family experience.

1565-1815

Mexico-Phillipines-Spain Commercial Spot

The Manila Galleons were Spanish trading ships that made round-trip sailing voyages once or twice per year across the Pacific Ocean from the port of Acapulco in New Spain (Mexico) to Manila in the Spanish East Indies (Philippines). The name "galleon" changed reflecting the city that the ship was sailing from. Puebla used to participate of this trade route for its territorial presence next to Acapulco. Manila Galleons were also known in New Spain as "La Nao de la China" (China Ship) because it carried largely Chinese goods, shipped from Manila. Nao of China trade route was inaugurated in 1565 after Augustinian friar and navigator Andrés de Urdaneta discovered the "tornaviaje" (return route) from the Philippines to Mexico. The route lasted until 1815 when the Mexican War of Independence ended Spanish control of Mexican ports. Manila galleons sailed the Pacific for 250 years, bringing to Spain their cargoes of luxury goods, economic benefits and cultural exchange.

1578-now

International University Town

Puebla City has a very prestigious university hub of public and private universities, just ranked second place after Mexico City's. Some local public universities are: Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) which is the oldest and largest university in Puebla, founded on April 15, 1587, and educating over 50,000 students split in different buildings and campus across town and Puebla State; and Instituto Tecnológico de Puebla (ITP). Competitive private universities are: Tecnológico de Monterrey (TEC), Universidad de las Américas-Puebla (UDLAP), Universidad Iberoamericana (IBERO), Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP), Universidad del Valle de México (UVM) and Universidad Anáhuac (ANAHUAC).

1640-1649

Cultural Center of New Spain

Puebla became the center of culture during the viceroyalty of New Spain (Mexico) in the 1600's under the leadership of the most famours bishop of Puebla: JUAN DE PALAFOX Y MENDOZA. A man of vast culture, polyglot, poet and writer, strategist, great administrator and lawyer. Palafox also was viceroy of the New Spain, Chairman of Supreme Court and Viceryalty Goverment, Archbishop of Mexico City and more other responsabilities for the Spanish Crown. Juan de Palafox founded hospitals, shools and the famous "La Biblioteca Palafoxiana". Palafox sponsored arts, public healthcare, education for everyone specially orphans, protection of Natives, and under his wisdow Puebla collected an important group of architects, artisans, artists, musicians, painters, who influenced culture for the whole Mexican nation. Read about Juan de Palafox y Mendoza in PUEBLA DE LOS ANGELES.

6 September 1646

Palafoxiana Library of Puebla

National Historic Monument of Mexico, 1981 UNESCO World Memory, 2005

The Palafoxiana Library of Puebla, the only library that today constitutes an unchanged testimony of the European legacy in America, aims to ensure the widest possible access to the information contained in its more than 45,000 printed books and in its manuscripts, part of a chosen bibliographic collection that covers from 1473 to 1821. Founded in 1646 by Bishop Juan de Palafox and Mendoza, the Palafoxiana Library was the first public library in the Americas, and has faithfully preserved its tradition of European intellectual and cultural heritage. In addition, the Library is famous for having preserved its headquarters and its bibliographic collection, its architecture and its shelves intact for its printed volumes and a collection of manuscripts unique in the world, to which nine incunabula are added.

5 May 1862

5 de Mayo Battle

Battle that changed Mexico and northamerica`s history

Mexico was invaded by Napoleon III's army in 1862 and one battle, Puebla "5 de Mayo" battle, defined the future of North America and inhabitants. Battle of Puebla took place on 5 May 1862 at the city of Puebla during the French intervention in Mexico. The battle ended in a heroic victory for the Mexican Army over the occupying French forces. The French eventually overran the Mexicans in subsequent battles, but the Mexican victory at Puebla, against a much better equipped and larger French army, provided a significant morale boost to the Mexican army and also helped to slow the French army's advance towards Mexico City. On April 2, 1867, Puebla was scene of the last and decesive battle over the French when General Porfirio Diaz defeated the last resistance of Napoleon III's invader army in Mexico.

18 November 1910

Cradle of Mexican Revolution

First social revolution of twentieth century

Puebla became a precursor to the Mexican Revolution, where a family from Puebla: Aquiles, Carmen and Máximo Serdán were behind one of the first conspiracies against long presidency of Porfirio Diaz (1876-1911) . Serdan plans were discovered and their house, located on 6 Oriente Street, was surrounded by federal troops. A gun battle ensued, killing both brothers, Aquiles and Maximo, on 18 November 1910. During the Mexican Revolution, the city was taken by forces under General Pablo Gonzalez, then later was under Emiliano Zapata's control. Porfirio Diaz was exiled to Paris and Family Serdán's house became a memorial monument of the first social revolution of the 20th century.

1994

Huejotzingo & Calpan

UNESCO Tangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 1994

Earliest 16th-Century Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl volcano are fourteen and were built by the Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians monks to evangelize the areas south and east of the volcano. These monasteries were recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1994 because it served as a model for other monasteries and churches of New Spain, and for the evangelization efforts in New Spain and some points beyond Latin America. They also represent an example of a new architectural concept in which open spaces are of renewed importance. The influence of this style is felt throughout the Mexican territory and even beyond its borders. If you are interested in touring two of the Franciscan monasteries close to Puebla: Huejotzingo & Calpan, PUEBLA ART TOURS are offered.

2008

Day of the Dead

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 2008

Day of the Dead was inscribed in UNESCO "Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" in 2008. Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and means on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died as support for their spiritual journey to the "inframundo" (underworld). But each region of Mexico has particular ways to express their feelings and sorrows for their loss. Thenfore, Puebla's regional area offers characteristics in locations that makes a visit a unique and unforgettable experience. If you are interested a PUEBLA DAY OF THE DEAD TOUR is offered.

2009

Ritual Ceremony of Voladores

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 2009

Ceremonia Ritual de los Voladores (Ritual Ceremony of the Flyers) is an ancient Mesoamerican ritual still performed today, albeit in modified form, in isolated spots in Mexico. It is believed to have originated with the Nahua, Huastec and Otomi people in central Mexico, and then spread throughout most of Mesoamerica. Ritual consists in a dance and climbing a 18 up to 40-meter pole from which four of the five participants then launch themselves tied with ropes to descend to the ground. The fifth participant remains on top of the pole, dancing and playing a flute and drum. According to one myth, the ritual was created to ask the gods to end a severe drought. Although the ritual did not originate with the Totonac people, today it is strongly associated with them, especially those in and around Cuetzalan and Papantla towns. The "Voladores" ritual was named an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2009 and refers to three groups of Voladores: Veracruz, San Luis Potosi and Puebla (Cuetzalan). If you are interested in touring to see Puebla Voladores, CUETZALAN PUEBLA TOUR is offered.

30 July 2013

Puebla VW Sedan

Twentieth century car

Volkswagen Company (VW) in Mexico produced a last-edition classic VW Sedan version to shut-down 21'529,464 unit-cycle era in 2003 for the worldwide famous car also known as "Beetle". Since 1996 was produced exclusively by "Volkswagen de Mexico", as the subsidiary of Volkswagen consortium, established in 1964 on the outskirts of Puebla where about working some 20,900 people making it the largest automotive complex Mexico and the second world's largest consortium plant. First produced cars came out in 1967 from its production lines. VW plant in Mexico is the largest company in Puebla. Finally, the last classic Beetle built is in the Vatican. Every day thousands of visitors can admire a VW TYP1 Sedan model that was built on July 30, 2003 and located in the Pavilion of the Floats of the Vatican Museums.

2013

Audi Car Plant

In 2003, Audi announced its investment plan 2013-2016 a period in which the luxury car brand will invest 13 billion euros, which includes the construction of its plant in Puebla State’s municipality of San Jose Chiapa Under Strategy 2020 scheme, Audi aims to displace BMW from first place in worldwide sales in the luxury car segment at the end of the decade by selling 2 million cars in the world market. The German company said that much of your investment will run in Germany, where he modernized its production lines and develop new automotive models. "In total over 10 thousand 500 million will be spent on developing new models and future technologies, such as hybrid electric propulsion. For the construction of the Puebla plant in San Jose Chiapa and investment of about one billion euros, facilities began to build the second half of 2013 and completed in 2016. At the same time, Audi has provided in its investment program for the next four years building factories in China, Germany and Hungary.

2018

Tehuacan Cuicatlan, originary habitat of Mesoamerica

UNESCO Mixed (Natural & Cultural) Heritage of Humanity, 2018

Tehuacan Cuicatlan Natural Reserve is a UNESCO site gathers the densest columnar cacti forests in the world that present a unique landscape also made up of maguey, yuccas and oaks. The archaeological remains show a technical evolution of the early domestication of vegetables. The valley presents an exceptional system of water management, built by channels, wells, aqueducts and dams that are the oldest in the continent and allowed the sedentarization of communities that lived of agriculture. Then Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Valley is the originary habitat of Mesoamerica and an invaluable and irreplaceable heritage of humanity. If you are interested in tour Tehuacan Cuicatlan (Zapotitlan Salinas), PUEBLA NATURE TOURISM is offered.

10 July 2019

Puebla VW New Beetle

Puebla Volkswagen factory plant said good bye to Beetle era, by shutting down New Beetle production for ever. The model added more than 1.7 million units since in 1997 it began to be assembled at the plant in Puebla, one of the largest in VW in the world. Beetle was heir to the legendary TYP1 Sedan (classic Beetle), conceived in 1938 in Germany by Ferdinand Porsche and which was produced until 2003.Thank you "beetle".

11 december 2019

Talavera Ceramic

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 2019

Soon after its foundation, Puebla was well known for its fine ceramics, especially for the style that would be called Talavera. This has been due to the abundance of quality clay in the region, drawing some of the best artisans. Between 1550 and 1570, Spanish potters from "Talavera de la Reina" town in Spain came to Puebla to teach the locals European techniques of using the potter’s wheel and tin-glazing. These new methods were mixed with native designs to give rise to what became known as "Talavera Poblana" (Puebla's Talavera). Glazing technique was first used for the tiles that still decorate many of the buildings in this city. Later, it was used to make pots, plates, jars, religious figures and other items. By the mid-17th century, the industry here had become well-established. Guilds were formed and ordinances passed to ensure quality. Blue was used only on the most expensive pieces due to the cost of the mineral used to produce it.

Talavera ceramic became the first inscribed Mexican artisan technique, the first bi-national inscription in Mexico and the first transcontinental cultural manifestation in Latin America on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (11 december 2019). Mexico and Spain achieved the registration of the artisan processes for the ceramics elaboration of Talavera from Puebla and Tlaxcala, Mexico, and the ceramics of Talavera de la Reina and El Puente del Arzobispo, Spain. If you are interested in Talavera pottery shopping a PUEBLA ART TOURS is offered.