PUEBLA DE ZARAGOZA

The historic district of this wonderful colonial city was listed as Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO in 1987. Regarded as the second capital of the Nueva España, Puebla went through a building frenzy from the XVI century. Featuring unique architectonic qualities, the colonial buildings within the historic core display facades made of noble materials such as stone, brick and ceramic tile. Some locations are not to be missed, such as El Zocalo or main square, the Rosario Chapel, the Museum of Popular Arts, the Santo Domingo Church, the Amparo Museum, the Viceroy Art Museum of Puebla, the Arts and Crafts Museum, and the Secret Convent of Santa Monica.

On the other hand, the city offers numerous monasteries built by the missions of the Franciscan, Augustinian and Dominic orders, still very well preserved, as well as many other examples such as majestic chapels, beautiful altarpieces and baroque niches; all this historical context complemented and enriched by a palpable religious mysticism of a key time in the creation of the current Mexican culture of mixed races and origins.

CHOLULA

The ancient city of Cholula flourished during the period known as the Classical period between the years 100 and 900 of our time, displaying a dynamic commercial activity and a rich cultural diversity, apart from the fact that the city was considered as the main Mesoamerican center for the worshiping and veneration of god Quetzalcoatl, the "Plumed Serpent".

Other remarkable features found in this city include the polychromatic ceramic works, a complex architecture, and its historic permanence in the region, as, even being an ancient settlement, was still inhabited and fully operational upon the arrival of the Spaniards in the XVI century.

POPOCATEPETL and IZTACCIHUATL
The "smoking hill" and the "sleeping woman" have belonged to Mexican landscape for some 500,000 years. For centuries, man has marveled at these two natural creations, and, given a magical connotation, they have been subjects of adoration throughout the history of the region.

Numerous legends and popular mythology have tried to explain the origin and significance of such natural wonders. Located between the current states of Puebla, Mexico and Morelos, the National Park of Iztaccihuatl and the Popocatepetl Volcano is open to the public yearlong and offers accommodation, hiking trails, and even the possibility of climbing the volcano during the months of November through March.