Universidad de las Américas Puebla is located in Cholula, an ancient city of great cultural wealth. However, less than 10 kilometers away, you will find downtown Puebla, capital of the state and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
Puebla is the second city in the country with the greatest number of museums and exhibition venues. We encourage you to explore its diversity. Periodically, night visits are organized to these cultural spaces, when museums extend their hours and allow free entrance to see their collections. In these Museum Nights, you can visit Capilla del Arte, the university’s space to present exhibits.
A must-see building is Puebla’s Cathedral. This impressive church was built between 1536 and 1539 by the bishop of Tlaxcala, Brother Julián Garcés. The sculptor Manuel Tolsá designed the main altar.
We also recommend going to the Biblioteca Palafoxiana (Palafox Library), which today houses over 43,000 rare and old works, including the 6,000 volumes that made up the private collection of Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza.
On weekends, you and your friends can visit the Callejón de los Sapos (Toad’s Alley) where you will find antiques. You can also go to the Loreto and Guadalupe Forts, a place filled with history, where the 5 de mayo battle took place. These forts offer a spectacular view of the entire city.
One of the most valued treasures of the city is its gastronomy. Some of the typical food is mole poblano, chiles en nogada, chalupas, tostadas, and molotes, available in different restaurants of historical downtown Puebla. You must also visit the handicrafts market “El Parián”, where you will also find traditional sweets, wooden toys, and a great variety of clothing in different textiles.
Puebla offers many possibilities to take advantage of your stay at the university. You will surely find a new place to visit every time.
One of the magical towns of Puebla State is Cholula, a city filled with traditions and history, only 20 minutes from Puebla and two and a half hours from Mexico City.
This town is proof of an impeccable syncretism. Founded in 1557, it houses the largest and oldest pyramid by base and volume in America and one of the biggest in the world. It is covered by a hill on top of which lies the Church of Los Remedios.
Among other typical places to visit in Cholula, you will find the esplanade that is part of the San Gabriel’ monumental complex, which contains the church and convent, the Third Order church, the Capilla Real with its many chapels, their atria, and the Franciscan Library Fray Bernardino de Sahagún. The San Pedro parish, the city museum and the Portal de Guerrero are also in the area.
There are also the Franciscan Convent, the archway of the Main Plaza, the museum – Casa y Centro de Cultura – where you will find paintings, murals, and crafts; the Main Plaza, the largest after the one in Mexico City. Legends say that Cholula has 365 churches, coinciding with the days of the year, which is why its nickname is “Rome of Anáhuac”.
Cholula is also known for its gastronomy, which you cannot miss. Typical food such as bean tamales, cholulteca soup, mole poblano, “elephant ears”, enchipotladas, cecina con rajas y queso de canasta, cuetlas and pepitorias, and much more.
In Cholula you will find tradition, art, culture, and entertainment, as well as diverse areas to go camping, restaurants, and lodging such as hotels, hostels, and motels. If you find yourself in Cholula, we recommend you go to one of its many celebrations, carnivals, and fairs, or join an architectonic and archeological tour.
It does not matter if you have a couple of hours or full days to visit, Cholula offers an unending variety of activities and places to see that are close to you. From the most visited places to quiet sanctuaries, you find something for everyone.