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Sections of San Pedro Cholula
ACCOMMODATIONS
ARCHEOLOGY
HISTORIC
ARCHITECTURE
ARTS AND
CRAFTS
FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS
GASTRONOMY
Cholula is
located about 15 km west of the city of Puebla and the name
comes from the Nahuatl composed of the two roots "choloa"
and “llān” and it can mean "place of flight" or “water that
drips.”
The city is
located in the east center of the State of Puebla and
comprises the Valley of Cholula, at an altitude of 2.220
meters above sea level and has a surface of 51,03 kilometers
square. The city borders to the north with the
municipalities of Juan C. Bonilla, Coronango and
Cuautlancingo, to the south with the municipalities of San
Gregorio Atzompa and San Andres Cholula, to the east with
the city of Puebla and to the west with the municipalities
of San Jerónimo Tecuanipan and Calpan.
Cholula was founded 600 years before Jesus Christ, which
represents a continuous habitation for more than 30
centuries, and pyramidal buildings have been constructed
since the beginning until the XVI century, as each ethnic
group that lived in the region left its architectonic
characteristics. The old Cholollan was an important
ceremonial center of the Mesoamerican Anáhuac, surviving
until the great slaughter Cholulteca, as the site for the
initiation of priests and personalities of diverse cultures.
During six days in October of 1519, Hernán Cortés, helped by
soldiers from the ethnic group Tlaxcaltecas, committed
genocide on the population, several days of slaughter were
sufficient to annihilate the civil population, dignitaries
and officials. History affirms that the dead were so many
that the roads and the patios of the altars were dyed of red
and blood ran on the streets as water in a rainy day.
By royal edict from the Prince Felipe II of Spain and
granted by the Emperor Carlos V (Carlos I of Spain,) the 27
of October of 1535, the title of City was granted to
Cholula.
During the colonial time, more than a hundred churches were
constructed in the Valley of Cholula - circumscription of
the district – but the mythical number of 365 was never
reached, contrary to what locals and foreigners say.
Nevertheless, the myth that the city has as many temples as
days are in the year is a tale deriving from an error in the
interpretation of the colonial chronicles, an overflowed
desire that does not falls too far from the reality, due to
the immense amount of teocallis (a Mesoamerican pyramid
surmounted by a temple) encountered and destroyed during the
Spanish occupation.
The colonial wealth of the theocratic city during years has
been devastated by cultural predators, being tolerated by
their relatives or governing friends, paradoxically, having
inherited the millenarian wealth, they allowed the sacking
and destruction. Also, natural phenomena have contributed to
the loss of the ancestral wealth of the Cholultecas, as for
example the earthquake of June 15, 1999, that affected the
majority of the colonial temples. The churches of San Andres
Cholula and the temple dedicated to the Virgin of the
Remedies, which was built on the great teocalli were
severely damaged.
The relevance of Cholula in the international context is
unquestionable, particularly its archaeological vestiges,
especially the Tlachihualtepel (Hill done of earth,) also
called the Machihualtépetl (Hill made by hand.)
ACCOMMODATIONS:
HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE:
The main
architectonic monuments that are located in this
municipality are: The Great Pyramid of Quetzalcóatl; the
Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Remedies - a church constructed
on a pyramid and where the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel) was
built in 1540 based on the plans of the Mosque of Cordoba
and consists of 49 cupolas and seven naves. Other important
monuments are: The Convent of San Gabriel - a Franciscan
institution that dates from 1540 and that has a nave covered
with gothic figures; the Parish of San Pedro that dates from
the 17 century; the Portal Guerrero with its 44 arcs and 170
meters in length, the House of the Culture and the
University of the Americas.
ARCHEOLOGY:
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
ZONE OF CHOLULA:
The archeological zone is located approximately eight km
(five miles) from Puebla, by the Road Quetzlcoatl. The
Pyramid of Tepanapa, dedicated to Quetzalcóatl, is the
largest man-built pyramid in the world. It was a place of
worship Olmec, Zapotec, Toltec, Chichimeca and Cholulteca
(ramification of the Aztecs) peoples. It is regarded as the
oldest city in America that it is still alive and it counts
with seven superposed pyramids. One of the most impressive
structures is the pyramid built in honor of Chiconahui
Quiahuitl, which has a 400 meter (1320 feet) base, or what
is regarded as the world's largest total volume.
One can enter by the underpasses and visit the partially
excavated site, where the hill was removed to show the
refined plans of the traditional period. The access to the
archaeological zone, accessible to the public, is done on
the northern side of the building. At its top one finds the
church Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, built at the end of
XVI century by the conquistadors and on days with clear
weather it offers a splendid sight of the city and the
volcanos. In The site’s Museum you can admire the
reproductions of the frescos of the “Drinkers and the
Chapulines” (Butterflies), as well as a scale model of the
whole pyramid. Open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00
p.m.
FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS:
Almost during the
whole year there are saints’ celebrations in the different
districts with floral arrangements, fireworks, candles,
dances, masses and processions. The most sumptuous
celebration is the one dedicated to the Virgin of the
Remedies. The Cholula Fair is celebrated in August and
September.
GASTRONOMY:
Among its typical
dishes we can find the kidney bean tamales, the green roast,
the mole Poblano, the ponche (beverage prepared with blue
maize and milk,) the dulce de leche (sweet caramelized
milk,) the alegria and the pepitoria (sweets made with
peeled seeds of pumpkin and honey) and the cider.
ARTS AND CRAFTS:
The crafts that
Cholula offers are based on an artistic blacksmith,
fireworks and sculptured marble.
For prices, reservations, availability and bookings, please
contact us at:
visit@luxuriousmexico.com
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