Rainy Saturday in Puebla

Our Local Expert Says:

This is the most important building in Puebla, and probably the most beautiful.

Description:

Puebla's Cathedral is the second largest in México. Its construction began in 1535 and was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception in 1649. In 1575 a new project by the architect Francisco Becerra made it larger and more elaborated. The new cathedral was completed in 1664.
Legend says that this cathedral was built following the plans for the Lima's Cathedral, in Peru, the other Viceregal Capital. But somehow, on the ship that came from Spain the plans got mixed. Maybe that is why Puebla's Cathedral is considered the most beautiful in America.
Though the exterior is austere, the interior is a marvelous spectacle of effusive decoration. It has 14 chapels, and an unusual octagonal altar, designed by Manuel Tolsá in 1797, which is the highlight of the cathedral. The dome is inspired on that of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
The cathedral was built in a Baroque style in transition to the Neoclassical style with some Renaissance details. Its twin towers are the tallest in Mexico and from top of them the view of the city and the volcanoes is excellent.
The facade may seem austere due to the dark stone, but is decorated with statues of saints and some reliefs of four Spanish kings.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world! It’s really small, so it won’t take you longer than half an hour to visit, but it’s worth every second.

Description:

The Palafoxiana Library was founded in 1646 by the Archbishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, viceroy of New Spain, for the Seminary of Puebla. It was the first public library in America, and is the only one that has survived to this day. This stunning Baroque library contains over 42,000 books, some of which date back to the 15th century. It has well preserved unique manuscripts, and at least 9 incunabula. In 2005 it was submitted in the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.
To visit the Library, you have to enter the Casa de la Cultura (the Cultural Arts Center) and go to the second floor. The library is right ahead of you, but the ticket office will be at you left hand side.

Description:

This is one of the three most important museums in Mexico dedicated to the national graphic and printed art. Erasto Cortes was a Poblano considered one of the best engravers in the history of Mexican Art. The museum has a permanent exhibition room and two temporal exhibitions rooms. The main function of this museum is the educational function around the graphic arts.

The XVI century building that houses the museum is a beautiful example of the Colonial architecture. Its main patio is surrounded by a two levels discreet arcade as beautiful as the work showed in its rooms.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is one of the most important museums in Mexico, so you have to go! They also usually have great temporary exhibitions too, so be sure to ask at the ticket office about that.

Description:

The Museo Amparo was opened in 1991, and since then, it's become one of the most important museums in Mexico. It's set in a complex of beautiful colonial buildings remodeled to accommodate this beautiful museum.
There are plenty of things to see here. This museum has the second largest pre-Hispanic pieces collection in Mexico, only after the National Anthropologic Museum in Mexico City. The Colonial Art rooms are beautiful, being in a Colonial building sure helps. In there you can see how'd a regular Colonial house be displayed. After admiring the pre-Hispanic art, to see the many religious and civil works of art shown here, sure can give you and idea of the transition this country had to go through since the arrival of the Spaniards. And the transition is still on. The Museo Amparo has an important modern and contemporary art collection that shows the newest and most important movements in mexican and world art. In this museum there's also a big temporary exposition area, and they're usually pretty good, so ask at the ticket office about who is exhibiting and if you still have time, go check it out.

Description:

This is the Convention Center of Puebla, an enormous complex with multiple rooms and auditoriums for any kind of convention. Is was built in 1999 by the renowned mexican architect Javier Sordo Madaleno.
It was made along the restoration of many deserted textile factories, giving it its famous mix of old and new. The most important parts of the factories were maintained and through some crystal floors and some old machines you can witness how the factories worked.
But probably the most beautiful part, and the one you can't miss, are the gardens. They are a oasis of beauty in the middle of the city.