| Located at the foot of
La Malinche volcano, Tlaxcala City is the capital of the state of
Tlaxcala.
CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
Tlaxcala City is a colonial gem.
The Plaza de la Constitución, also known as
the Zócalo, boasts several impressive colonial buildings,
including the sixteenth-century Government Palace which features
colorful twentieth-century murals and the newly-opened Museo de
la Memoria (Museum of Memory) which showcases Tlaxcalan history.
This plaza is a great place to hear live music on weekends.
The smaller square, Plaza Xicoténcatl, has
an excellent Saturday craft market.
The former San Francisco Convent and its open-air chapel was built
in 1537 and today houses the Regional Museum of Tlaxcala.
The Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions houses displays
of masks and costumes worn during regional festivities. Often weavers
will be carding wool and working with handlooms.
ARCHAEOLOGY
Nearby is the archaeological site of Cacaxtla, which flourished
from the 7th to 10th centuries. After the fall of the nearby city
Cholula (650 - 750AD), Cacaxtla became the hegemonic power in this
part of the Tlaxcala–Puebla valley. By 1000, the city was
abandoned.
The colorful murals here are some of the finest in the country.
The site is administered by INAH.
FOOD
Local favorites include Mixiote, a specialty made of mutton marinated
in a spicy sauce, wrapped in a maguey leaf and steam-cooked. A lighter
meal is bean soup (crema de frijol), served with avocado, cheese,
chopped and toasted guajillo chile and fried pork croutons.
FYI. Magueys are abundant in this region and they have multiple
uses. Leaves are used to wrap meats and poultry for steaming. Maguey
hearts are used to make the pulque drink.
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