Things to do in Puebla México - Art / Offbeat

The Amparo Museum (Museo Amparo) showcases a permanent collection of over 6,000 works of pre-Hispanic origin and features multiple temporary exhibitions displaying Novo Hispano, modern and contemporary art. Situated in a 16th-century colonial structure that formerly housed a hospital, the building was converted by Pedro Ramirez Vazquez, a renowned figure in Mexican architecture. The museum has a souvenir shop, libraries and a beautiful rooftop terrace cafeteria which offers magnificent view of the nearby cathedral.

Built by Toyo Ito, recipient of the 2013 Pritzker Architecture Prize, the International Museum of Baroque (Museo Internacional del Barroco) opened in 2016. It offers an overview of the prolific Baroque period in Europe and Latin America during the 17th and 18th centuries. The museum is situated in the Angelopolis, one of the most modern areas of the city. Parks, bike paths, shopping malls, universities, cultural venues and the Star of Puebla Ferris wheel are located nearby.

In 1835, businessman Esteban de Antuñano opened the first factory in Mexico driven by hydropower which remained in operation until 1991. Today, the nearly 7,000-meter structure houses three museums—the House of Music in Vienna (Museo Casa De La Musica De Viena En Puebla), the Puppet House (Casa De Las Marionetas Mexicanas) and the Children’s Museum (Museo Infantil)—which are integrated into the original architecture.

In 2014, Puebla’s local government found evidence of a network of tunnels beneath the city. Further exploration revealed an underground passage over 70 meters in length with a history reaching back over 300 years. Constructed in 1682, the tunnel known as Bubas Bridge (Puente de Bubas) originally connected Bubas Hospital to the city and it continued to serve as hidden road for the distinguished upper class families of colonial-era Puebla for many years. Today, the Secrets of Puebla program offers tours of the tunnel to visitors.

Located in Puebla’s historic centre, the Palafoxian Library (Biblioteca Palafoxiana) is widely considered to be the oldest public library in The Americas. Established in 1646 with a donation of 5,000 volumes from Bishop Juan Palafox y Mendoza, the library is recognized for its antiquity, originality and artistic value. A museum since 1981, the library holds over 42,000 books and manuscripts dating back to the 15th century and continues to serve as a repository for researchers from around the world. UNESCO added the library to its Memory of the World Register in 2005.

Listed as the Magic Town of Mexico since 2012, San Andrés and San Pedro Cholula are two of the municipalities that make up the modern City of Cholula. These municipalities are an exceptional source of a rich heritage of over 2,000 years. Cholula is a fervent religious community that has existed since the Hispanic era, and the city is recognized for its numerous variety of churches. In San Andrés, the main attraction is the Great Pyramid of Cholula that is over 60 meters high. It is the largest pyramid in the world, having an area of ​​more than 400 meters per side and has a series of tunnels excavated in the ruins that can be explored. At the top of the pyramid is a 16th century church. It is the perfect setting to have an impressive panoramic view. In San Pedro is the Plaza de la Concordia where the San Gabriel Convent is located, which houses the Franciscan Library and the Guerrero Portal, the longest arched portal in Mexico that offers a variety of restaurants and cafes.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1994, Huejotzingo and Calpan are located on the slopes of the volcano Popocatépetl. They belong to a group of 14 area monasteries that were built in the sixteenth century by the Augustinians, Franciscans and Dominicans in order to evangelize the surrounding region. The communities of Huejotzingo and Calpan are very festive and host a variety of celebrations throughout the year. Huejotzingo’s carnival is renowned for its widespread local participation, sumptuous costumes and representations of Puebla’s history. Between July and August, Calpan holds one of the best Chiles en Nogada festivals in the country. Though it is possible to enjoy this exquisite dish in Puebla, the farm-to-table experience of sampling it in Calpan is especially memorable.