Puebla City

Puebla City is the capital of Puebla state in central Mexico, located in the highlands about 100 kilometers southeast of Mexico City. The downtown streets follow a grid layout with buildings from the 16th to 18th centuries, many decorated with colorful ceramic tiles.

Spanish settlers founded the city in 1531 as a stop on the trade route between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz. Over the following centuries it grew into a major center for textile production and religious institutions.

The city developed its visual identity through the combination of colonial Spanish architecture and local craft traditions, visible today in colorful facades and ceramic details. Walking through the historic center reveals this blend in glazed tiles, wrought iron balconies and ornate church towers.

The historic center is easy to explore on foot, with most points of interest within a few blocks of each other. The altitude of about 2,100 meters (6,900 feet) can cause mild shortness of breath for some visitors at first, so taking a slower pace helps.

The Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 made the city the birthplace of the Mexican national holiday Cinco de Mayo, celebrated worldwide today. The historic Fort Loreto and Fort Guadalupe still mark the site of that victory over French forces.

Location: Puebla

Inception: April 16, 1531

Elevation above the sea: 2,153 m

Website: https://pueblacapital.gob.mx

GPS coordinates: 19.05139,-98.21778

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:00