Puebla

Capital - Other Cities and Attractions

Location: central Mexico
Area: 33:919 km 2
Population: 5:076,686 inhabitants

The City of Puebla, well known as "Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity", it's surrounded on its historical center area, by many buildings with lots of testimonies of the past.

Puebla is famous for one of Mexico's most notable battles, which took place on May 5th 1862, against the French.6,000 well armed French troops, sent by Napoleon III to occupy Mexico City (they had to take Puebla first) were defeated by 2000 poor, rag-tag, and poorly armed Mexicans. Although the French returned to occupy the city a year later, the event is a centerpiece in Mexican history and a symbol of its struggle and persistent determination against its foreign invaders.Today "Cinco de Mayo" (fifth of May) is a national holiday, celebrating the victory of the Batalla de Puebla (Battle of Puebla).

The State of Puebla also hosts Mexico's most famous (and non-dormant) volcano: Popocatepetl. If you drive or take the bus to Puebla, you'll see this magnificent tower of natural energy from the south side; it is sometimes capped with snow. In the 1970's you could see it from Mexico City, but today, air pollution blocks the view. If you want to see the Volcano, travel EARLY in the morning - late mornings and afternoons bring heat that causes mist so a clear view is obscured from the road to Puebla.

There are no less than 3 other volcanoes in the area: Iztaccihuatl, Malinche and Citlaltepetl.

Puebla is quite a lively place at night, with authentic Mexican Mariachi's wondering the streets and restaurants, in search of people to hire their musical services. A real treat!