Puebla

Puebla, the third city of Mexico, capital of a state of the same name, stands on a fruitful plain, 7120 feet above sea-level, and 68 miles (by rail 116) SE. of the city of Mexico. In the vicinity are Orizaba, Popocatepetl, and other lofty mountains. It was founded in 1531, and is one of the handsomest towns in the republic, with broad, straight, clean streets; many of the houses, which are generally three stories high, have quaint fronts of red and white tile-work. The city contains nearly fifty churches, theological, medical, art, and normal schools, a museum of antiquities which dates from 1728, two large libraries, a number of hospitals, &c. On the great square stands the cathedral, a Doric building with two towers, the interior of which is decorated in the most sumptuous manner with ornaments of gold and silver, paintings, statues, &c. Puebla has a thriving trade, and an air of cheerful activity, not common in Mexico, pervades the place. In 1889 there were twenty-two factories; the chief articles produced are cottons, paper, iron, glass, porcelain, leather. Pop. (1895) 91,917. Puebla was besieged for two months by the French, and then taken by storm, 17th May 1863.