Discover Puebla's Secrets: 10 Fascinating Fun Facts About This Mexican Gem

1. Pyramid Matryoshka

In Puebla, Mexico, there's a pyramid scheme so elaborate that it's a tourist attraction: the Great Pyramid of Cholula consists of six structures stacked like Russian nesting dolls - only they are life- and deity-sized, dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Towering at 25 meters, this ancient mega-matryoshka has more volume than the Great Pyramid of Giza, making it a prime spot for history buffs, archaeologists, and people reliving their childhood block-stacking days!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Talavera Pottery Paradise

If you've ever walked into a pottery shop and thought, "Now, this is just my cup of Talavera": It's time to take a colorful trip to Puebla, Mexico—home of the stunning Talavera pottery! Influenced by Chinese export porcelain in the 17th century, these blue-and-white beauties made Puebla a pottery paradise thanks to its place on the Spanish trade route from the Far East. Puebla's Talavera stands out with a hard opaque white glaze and vividly colored, eye-catching enamel-painted designs.
Source => metmuseum.org

Did you know Mexico City is sinking by 1 meter (3.2 feet) every year due to its massive water consumption? Discover how this affects buildings and puts billions at risk!

=> Fun Facts about Mexico-City

3. Willy Wonka's Mole Poblano

If Willy Wonka took a detour south of the border, Puebla would be his Chocolate Factory: Known for its scrumptious mole poblano, this hysterically delightful dish contains over 20 ingredients - including chocolate, chili peppers, and spices - and is often savored with chicken or pork, making it a mouth-watering staple of Mexican cuisine.
Source => wanderlog.com

4. World's Smallest Geyser

When Mother Nature plays bartender, she mixes up a steamy cocktail called Cuexcomate: the world's smallest geyser, nestled in the heart of Puebla, Mexico, stands at a modest 43 feet tall. Born from an eruption of the famed Popocatépetl volcano, this natural cooler was once used by indigenous people to store food and grains, and even though it was proclaimed inactive in the 1660s, locals keep a watchful eye on the little geyser that could. Adventurous souls can descend inside and witness an underground stream, waterfall, and feel the warmth of the earth below its surface.
Source => atlasobscura.com

5. Sister Mole's Delicious Invention

As Sister Mole hopped aboard a chili pepper with a cocoa in her hand—little did she know, it was like chocolate and peanut butter's honeymoon destined to happen: Puebla, Mexico, is where the delicious mole poblano sauce was born, a culinary delight rumored to have been invented by a nun at the Santa Rosa convent in the 17th century. Although the true origin remains uncertain, Puebla also boasts other mouthwatering mole variations, like mole negro with chocolate, cloves, cinnamon, and cumin, and mole verde with pumpkin seeds and green chili peppers.
Source => alimentarium.org

6. Neighborhood of the Toads

In a twist rivaling any amphibious Aesop fable, a croaking chorus of toads once held an unexpected nightly serenade in a particular Mexican neighborhood: Puebla's Barrio de Los Sapos earned its moniker, which translates to "Neighborhood of the Toads," due to countless toads gathering there during heavy rains in the 19th century, turning the area into a veritable Alley of the Toads, now abounding with antique shops, street markets, and fine dining options.
Source => epicureanexpats.com

7. Poblano and Nogada Heaven

When you're pining for poblano and nuts about nogada, there's only one place to satisfy your cravings: Puebla, Mexico boasts a mouthwatering array of unique dishes like chiles en nogada, which was concocted to celebrate Mexico's independence. If you're more into ogling fancy facades than culinary triumphs, fear not: Puebla also entices history buffs with over 2,600 historic buildings and the awe-inspiring Puebla Cathedral that spruces up the cityscape's colonial charm.
Source => britannica.com

8. Iturbide's Yelp Review

If Agustín de Iturbide had a Yelp account, he'd probably rave about the first bite of this divine dish prepared in his honor, scoring it a perfect cinco estrellas: Puebla, Mexico holds the honor of being the birthplace of the delectable Chiles en Nogada, a concoction of stuffed poblano chiles, sumptuous walnut sauce, and juicy pomegranate seeds, traditionally served at room temperature and has come to be regarded as a national dish of Mexico.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Calle de los Dulces: Candyland

If Willy Wonka swapped his chocolate river for a Mexican twist and invited the nuns to join the fiesta, we'd get Puebla's Calle de los Dulces in a nutshell: a historic street with over 40 cherished candy shops offering authentic Mexican sweets that originated in the 17th century from the creative concoctions of Franciscan nuns, their African and Indigenous slaves, and the support of Puebla's government in the mid-20th century to form a tantalizingly delicious landmark.
Source => atlasobscura.com

10. Golden Capilla del Rosario

If Michelangelo had a fairy godmother who went rogue with a golden wand, you'd get the Capilla del Rosario in Puebla, Mexico: A late 17th-century architectural masterpiece, this Baroque-style church is considered one of Mexico's most important religious buildings, dripping in gold leaf and bursting with vibrant, awe-inspiring artwork.
Source => en.wikipedia.org