FAST
FACTS
Location: Tlaxcala State, central Mexico
Distance from Mexico City: 100 miles east
Population: 140,000
Closest major airport(s): Hermanos Serdan
Intl. aka Puebla Intl Airport (PBC)
Time zone: Central Standard Time
Tlaxcala is the capital city of Mexico’s
smallest state of the same name, which is
about the size of Rhode Island and
surrounded by the renowned Puebla on three
sides.
Tlaxcala City offers visitors a variety of
attractions including colonial masterpieces,
stunning prehispanic murals and folkloric
festivals all within minutes of each other.
Tlaxcala, is a colonial gem with a unique
charm. On weekends, locals head to the main
square to listen to local bands play and
support the community. For visitors, the
charming main plaza is a great place to
visit several beautiful colonial buildings.
The sixteenth-century Government Palace
features colorful twentieth-century murals,
while the newly-opened Museo de la Memoria
(Museum of Memory) showcases Tlaxcalan
history through unique displays.
Additional structures worth visiting include
the former San Francisco Convent and its
beautiful Moorish-style open-air chapel
built in 1537. The building now houses the
Regional Museum of Tlaxcala, worth visiting
for an interesting glimpse of the region’s
culture and traditions. Likewise, the Museum
of Popular Arts and Traditions houses
interesting displays of masks and costumes
worn during festivities. It sometimes
features weavers carding wool and working
with handlooms throughout the exhibit.
Cuisine is another specialty in the quaint
city of Tlaxcala. Several top-quality
restaurants can be found under the plaza’s
main portales (archways), offering
traditional Mexican fare with regional
twists. Some of the local favorites include
crema de frijol (bean soup), served
with avocado, cheese, chopped and toasted
guajillo chile and fried pork croutons; as
well as mixiote, a local specialty
made of mutton marinated in a spicy sauce,
wrapped in a maguey leaf and steam-cooked.
Fonda del Convento serves regional dishes in
a charming setting and is currently one of
the most popular casual restaurants in the
area. For a more elegant meal, Posada San
Francisco, in the main plaza, is a great
option.
It is important for travelers to consider
that the rainy season in Tlaxcala runs from
April to October. Days consist of sunny
mornings followed by late-afternoon showers
and mild temperatures. The Feria de Tlaxcala
takes place from mid-October to mid-November
and on the third Monday of May, celebrations
are held in honor of the patron saint, the
Virgin of Ocotlán.
Tlaxcala is a charming destination perfect
for a small-town vacation. |
