Tlaxcala is the capital of Tlaxcala.

Understand

The city of Tlaxcala arrived rather late in the scene of the history of Mexico. Originally in this location, around the 14th century, four polities known as the Tepeticpac, Ocotelolco, Tizatlan and Quiahuiztlan inhabited this area and jointly fought against the aggressive Aztecs that sought to capture prisoners for live sacrifice. The Spanish established a settlement around 1522 to enlist these groups in Spain's own besiegement of the Aztecs, and to evangelize and subjugate these tribes as well, who ended up losing their lands and original ways of life. Spain even set up a diocese in the primeval form of Tlaxcala (a Nahuatl word meaning place of corn bread, by the way), but it was eventually relocated to Puebla as the population dwindled over time.

It was on the heels of the signing of the Mexican Independence that Tlaxcala officially became founded in 1813, a connection that is marked by the naming of its main square Plaza de la Constitución (after the Cádiz Constitution). And a lot of effort has been put into creating a stately, colonial town center, which remains to this day, in spite of how development never really took off.

Get in

You are out of luck insofar as air service here, but ATAH, Exal, and ADO provide some connections to other cities via bus. The central bus station is

• 1 Terminal Central De Autobuses De Pasajeros Tlaxcala. (updated Nov 2020)

If renting or driving your own car, Tlaxcala is an hour north of Puebla and about two hours east of Mexico City.

Get around

Walk or drive or use a taxi.

See

• 1 Basilica of Our Lady of Ocotlan, ☏ +52 246 462 1073. Pilgrimage place where the Virgin is said to have appeared to so and so in the 15th cen. and that houses the venerated statue of Ocotlan along with rich embellishments in its bas-reliefs behind the altar. (updated Nov 2020)
• 2 Plaza de la Constitución. Tlaxcala's downtown square, framed by the Palacio de Gobierno and Palacio Municipal (former grain silo) on the north and Palacio de Justicia in straw yellow tones and Museo de Arte de Tlaxcala on the west. (updated Nov 2020)
• 3 Gobierno del Estado de Tlaxcala (Palacio de Gobierno), De La Constitución 3, ☏ +52 246 465 2960. 08ː00-18ː30 M-F. Historical governmental palace building housing murals and codices regarding the four dominions of Tepeticpac, Ocotelolco, Tizatlan and Quiahuiztlan. (updated Nov 2020)
• 4 Catedral de Tlaxcala, ☏ +52 246 462 1511. Original construction was between 1537 and 1542, with the church and adjoining former Franciscan monastery. Original roof beams still intact. The church has some rare examples in the Western Hemisphere of Moorish art. (updated Nov 2020)
• 5 Museo Regional de Tlaxcala - INAH, ☏ +52 246 462 0262. 10ː00-18ː00 Tu-Su, closed M. Notable paintings and sculpture and ethnography exhibits in the five halls covering the pre-Hispanic period up to the 19th century and two halls set aside for temporary exhbits. Went from originally being a Franciscan monastery to a military barracks to its present use. Between here and the Plaza Xicohtencatl is the pedestrian-friendly corridor called Calzada San Francisco. (updated Nov 2020)
• 6 Museo Miguel M.Lira, Av Independencia 7, Centro, 90000 Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico, ☏ +52 246 117 5209. 10ː00-17ː00 daily. Museum about a Tlaxcalan writer if you are so inclined to that sort of thing. And next door is a bullring that has played quite a part in Tlaxcala's history due to the popularity of the pastime. (updated Nov 2020)
• 7 Plaza Xicohténcatl. Town plaza where numerous art vendors and craft stalls are located, in addition to souvenir stores along the perimeter. (updated Nov 2020)
• 8 Museo de la Memoria de Tlaxcala, Av Independencia 3, ☏ +52 246 466 0792. Another historical museum of Tlaxcala. Lots of little religious artifacts here and things. (updated Nov 2020)
• 9 Museo de Arte de Tlaxcala, Plaza de la Constitución 21, ☏ +52 246 466 0352. 10ː00-18ː00 daily. Eclectic and religious art and a little bit of this and that. (updated Nov 2020)
• 10 Teatro Xicoténcatl, Av Benito Juárez 21. Has some interesting Neoclassical architecture after being built during the Porfirio Diaz period. A city landmark. (updated Nov 2020)
• 11 Parroquia de San José, Calle 1 de Mayo 4, ☏ +52 246 462 1106. 6ː00-21ː00 daily. 18th century baroque church that was the original diocese cathedral before it was transferred to Puebla. Has blue Talavera tiles and orange walls for a dazzling imagery of color. One block west of here across Plaza Juarez is the 19th century Palacio Legislativo that has an eye-pleasing facade of grey sandstone. (updated Nov 2020)

Do

• 1 Zoológico del Altiplano, Km 32.5 Ex Rancho La Aguanaja, Carr. Puebla-Apizaco, San Pablo Apetatitlán, ☏ +52 246 464 1012. 09ː30-16ː00 Tu-F, 10ː00-17ː00 Sa-Su, closed M. White adult and baby lions, jaguars, bears, giraffes, monkeys, snakes, and other members of the animal kingdom await you here. M$10 Adult; M$5 Child. (updated Nov 2020)

Eat

• 1 La Fonda del Convento, San Francisco 1, ☏ +52 246 462 0765. 08ː00-20ː00 daily. Part of the former convent complex, offers a wide variety of local dishes and flavors. (updated Nov 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Posada de la Virgen, Ezequiel M. Gracia 25, ☏ +52 246 157 9962. Has garden and terrace and continental breakfast to get you going in the morning. M$804. (updated Nov 2020)