The pyramid of the Zona Arqueológica de Cholula brings the archaeological dimension of the destination to the fore. Based on its ground area, it is considered the largest in the world; it is more than 400 meters long on each side, 66 meters high, and has a volume of about 4.5 million cubic meters. Construction of the main temple began in the 2nd century BCE and is believed to have been completed between 900 and 1100 CE.
Archaeology: Pyramid and Museum
The Museo de Sitio de Cholula is a purpose-built museum with three permanent exhibition rooms on one level. Its chronological exhibition presents Cholula’s pre-Hispanic development through ceramics and archaeological subjects, burial customs, contact with the Spanish, and reproductions of mural paintings. Explanatory panels in Spanish and English provide language guidance. If you would like to explore the history in chronological order, the museum offers a distinct focus alongside the pyramid’s dimensions.
Sacred Architecture and Views
The Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios was built on Tlachihualtepetl, the Great Pyramid of Cholula. It is considered an important regional pilgrimage center because it houses the image of the Virgen de los Remedios, which is venerated as miraculous. The interior is designed in the Republican Baroque style, with wooden and plaster altars and gilded decorations on the vaults and walls. The exterior surface of the raised dome is clad in Talavera tiles. From the atrium, you can see the Valley of Cholula and, in the distance, the Popocatépetl volcano.
Historic Buildings and Church Art
The Convento de San Gabriel stands in the center of San Pedro Cholula, on the site of a former temple dedicated to Quetzalcóatl. Its cornerstone was laid on February 7, 1549; the convent was completed in 1552 and consecrated on April 30 of the same year. The Capilla Real o de Naturales has seven naves and 49 domes; its interior is considered unique. Notable historic details include a monumental holy-water font from the 16th century, made from a single block of stone, and the atrium cross, carved in 1668.
The Casa del Caballero Águila is one of the oldest surviving civil buildings from the New Spain period in the Cholula region. Its ground floor dates from the 16th century and its upper floor from the 17th century. At the Parroquia de San Pedro, the tower is considered the tallest among Cholula’s churches. Its dome is designed in the Churrigueresque style and has eight windows with Estípites.
Exchange and Tour
At the Milenario Trueque in 2025, fruit, vegetables, baskets, handmade clothing, and products made of clay and wood were exchanged at Plaza de la Concordia. The event brought together more than 100,000 visitors and over 3,300 artisans from various communities and states of Mexico. Another activity is offered by Tranvía Tip Tours, with a panoramic tram tour.
For the broader travel overview: Tlaxcalancingo.
