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TOURISTIC ATTRACTIVES Cholula's Archaeological Zone, is open to the public the 365 year's day, with a service schedule from 9:00 a.m. until 18:00 p.m. from Monday to Sunday. The public tour is divided in three parts, and it is suggested to go round in this order: Museo del Sitio (Site's Museum), opened tour to the public in the exploration tunnel's interior, and at last in an opened area. Actually, the tickets are $33.00. The rules establish that children under 13 years old, students and teachers subscribed to the national education system, don't have to pay, just as the ones older than 60 years old with their INSEN credential, retired and pensioners, as well as Sundays and holidays to the national public. If you want more information, please call: 01-(222)2479081 (Archaeological Zone of Cholula, Puebla). Archaeologist Due to that at simple view, it is only a hill with a yellow church in the summit, it is hard to believe that it was the greatest pyramid (according to extension) in Mexico. It is compound by several pyramids built one over another. It is believed that by the Spaniard's arrival, they didn't know that there was a pyramid under the hill, where they built the church of “Nuestra Señora de los Remedios” (“Our Lady of Remedies”) . By these days, the Mexican State has been digging it up, and turning it into a museum. Probably, the most interesting part of this pyramid, are its underground passages, built by archaeologists to enter and study the pyramid's layers, these can be visited with a guide. By the outside, ruins of ceremonial places and a wide stair (that takes you to the church of “Nuestra Señora de los Remedios” (“Our Lady of Remedies”) that dominates the whole town, and from which you can contemplate a beautiful view of Cholula and the Popocatepetl volcano at the back) are found.
PLAZA DE LA CONCORDIA It is the biggest market in Mexico. In it, we can find the fountain of San Miguel Arcangel. This original fountain of the XVI century, was donated by Felipe II of Spain in 1554. It is made of gray quarry, and the sculpture of San Miguel, which is of only one piece, has been always in the same place. In front of the fountain, we find the Hall of 46 arches, the longest in America. It was built in 3 stages of which the first two were already done in 1581, and its function was to give a roof and lodging to the pilgrims that came to the market and to the sanctuary; in some moment, there was the jail, and actually, there is the Municipal Presidency. IGLESIAS From Cholula's main square, it is possible to see the Sanctuary of “Nuestra Señora de los Remedios” (“Our Lady of Remedies”), which dominates the valley and the city. Although Cholula's main attractive is the pyramid and the church the village has a provincial enchant that can be enjoyed any weekend. The Parroquia de San Pedro (Parish of San Pedro) is found next to the arches, and it is a characteristic building of the XVII century that, instead of pointing to the interior part of the main square, it points to the Convento Franciscano (Franciscan Convent) of San Gabriel, as if it would be challenging it.
EX CONVENTO DE SAN GABRIEL San Gabriel's Convent, of the XVI century, was totally built by indigenous hands, and has paintings of the same age. One of its main elements is the neoclassic style altarpiece, that dates on 1897. The church was built on the same place where the temple dedicated to Quetzalcoatl was located, giving place to the Spaniard urbanization. San Gabriel was founded in 1529, and was concluded in 1552. It makes and architectonic group that includes, besides the temple, the Capilla Real (Real Chapel), the Capilla Abierta (Opened Chapel), and the temple of the Tercera Orden (Third Order). The temple has only a nave, its locks are vault kind of arch rib with gothic drawings.
CAPILLA REAL At the left side of the Franciscan temple, built by indigenous nobles, is located the Capilla Real (Real Chapel). The first one was built during the year 1575. In its origin, it was completely open to the atrium to give chance to thousands of indigenous people that could not fit them all in the church, to hear the mass, and about the end of the XVI century, it was covered and redesigned, staying 7 naves with 7 domes each of them, giving a total of 49 domes. Actually, besides that, it has a cypress with the image of the Virgen de Guadalupe (Virgin of Guadalupe), built on 1897, with a font of the XVI century, a beautiful atrial cross sculpt in 1668, and eleven paintings of the XVIII century that make this historical monument an architectural jewel of great value.
CAPILLA DE LA TERCER ORDEN Between the Capilla Real (Real Chapel) and the Convento Franciscano (Franciscan Convent), was built the church of the Tercera Orden (Third Order), of the XVIII century. The original church of the XVI century doesn't exist anymore. It has neoclassical altars in white color and in gold, seven paintings of the XIX century and beginnings of the XX, and an harmonious and well proportioned interior, a body of three vaults that make the transept. PARROQUIA DE SAN PEDRO Wonderful exemplary construction of architecture of the XVII century con a strange location, it is not in front of the market as it is used to; but it is in front to the Convent, as challenging it. The front is very simple, its two bodies tower standing out the styles: Baroque, Renaissance, Forge and Churrigueresque. There, beautiful paintings can be admired, such as the “Divina Pastora” (Divine Shepherdess) of the XVII century; a Villalpando “San Miguel”; and the best painting of Diego Borgraf “Cristo atado a la columna de los Santos” (“Christ tied to the column of the Saints”). |
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