This summer we set off on a huge adventure, the first stop of which was Mexico, and the wonderful city of Puebla. As soon as we arrived at the airport, we headed straight for the bus station, but we didn’t waste any time waiting. We went out onto the street, where we immediately noticed a line snaking in front of a taco vendor. We knew that where there were so many people, something special was brewing, so we quickly got a large batch of super tacos for the trip, which was the perfect start to our Mexican gastronomic tour.
The city of Puebla immediately enchanted us with its atmosphere and fantastic restaurants. Our first trip took us to the hill overlooking the city, where the Loreto and Guadalupe Forts (Fuertes de Loreto y Guadalupe) are located. This location is now an important national monument, as one of the most glorious events in Mexican history, the Battle of Puebla, took place here.
On this hill on May 5, 1862, a vastly superior, modern French army was repelled by Mexican troops defending their homeland. Led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, the defenders stopped Napoleon III’s troops, a feat that has since become one of the greatest symbols of Mexican national pride. This event is still celebrated worldwide as Cinco de Mayo, and monuments and museums commemorate the heroes on the site.
While exploring the city, we also stopped at the local markets, where we bought some deliciously fresh and juicy fruits. From there, we headed for culture and visited the famous Biblioteca Palafoxiana, the first public library in the Americas. The library was founded in 1646 by Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, who donated five thousand of his own books to the city on the condition that anyone could read them freely. The impressive baroque wooden bookshelves, still visible today, house over forty thousand rare volumes, and the library is now part of the UNESCO Memory of the World list.
Our sense of adventure then led us to the world’s smallest volcano, Cuexcomate. This geological formation, only 13 meters high, is a special attraction, but unfortunately we found the site closed. Although we were not able to go inside, the return trip was still memorable, and we traveled back with a local colectivo. It was touching to see the kindness of the locals, everyone greeted everyone on the vehicle in a friendly manner, and this direct, helpful style characterized the people throughout the city. We also visited Uriarte Talavera, the center of the famous tin-glazed ceramic art.
Puebla de los Ángeles has an unusual history, as it is one of the few Mexican cities that the Spanish conquerors did not plan and build on the site of a ruined Indian settlement, but in 1531 on “virgin land”. According to legend, angels marked the city’s location at the foot of the surrounding volcanoes, but in reality, the Spanish crown wanted to create a central settlement between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz, where Spanish settlers could engage in agriculture and industry.
During the colonial period, Puebla quickly developed into the second most important city in the country. Its strategic location made it a wealthy commercial and religious center, as evidenced by the city’s lavish Baroque churches and palaces. This era also saw the development of the famous ceramics industry and the city’s unique gastronomy, where Spanish ingredients and local spices were combined to create iconic dishes such as mole poblano and chiles en nogada.
The 19th century was a time of independence struggles and political instability for Puebla. The city’s name became world-famous in 1862 after its victory over the French, when it took the name Puebla de Zaragoza in honor of the deceased general. At the end of the era, during the Porfirio Díaz era, the city underwent significant modernization, with the arrival of the railroad and industrialization, further strengthening its economic role.
In the 20th century, Puebla became one of the defining industrial engines of modern Mexico. In the 1960s, the massive Volkswagen factory was established here, completely transforming the city’s structure and population. This economic boom allowed the city to simultaneously preserve its colonial treasures and become a vibrant, modern metropolis, with the historic downtown area declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Today, Puebla is an exciting blend of past and future. On the one hand, it is proud of its title as the City of Angels, its numismatic and library treasures, and on the other hand, it is a developing university and cultural center, where tourists can get to know the true, hospitable face of Mexico, along with the most modern services. The kindness we experienced during our trip and the colorful face of the city proved that Puebla is deservedly considered one of the most livable and beautiful places in the country.
