Tlaxcala (capital city)

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.