Puebla << PWEHB luh or pyoo EHB luh >> (pop. 1,542,232) is one of the largest cities in Mexico. It stands about 65 miles (105 kilometers) southeast of Mexico City and is the capital of the state of Puebla. The old city center has many beautiful Spanish-style churches and other buildings. Puebla’s chief products include cotton textiles, glass, fine pottery, and beautifully colored tiles. The area is also a center for automobile manufacturing.
Puebla is one of the oldest Spanish settlements in Mexico. It was founded in 1531 as Puebla de los Ángeles. In the late 1800’s, it was renamed Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza in honor of General Ignacio Zaragoza. Zaragoza led Mexican forces that defeated French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo celebrates this victory.
In 1987, Puebla’s old city center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Such sites are places of unique cultural or natural importance as designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
