Those choosing Tlaxcala for a cultural stay can explore the city’s history at different scales: from its designated historic center to individual buildings, collections and festival traditions. The Zona de Monumentos Históricos de Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl was designated on April 11, 1986. It covers 0.503 km² and 33 city blocks with buildings of historical and architectural significance.

Monastery, Cathedral and Architecture

The Ex Convento Franciscano de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was one of the first four Franciscan monasteries in the Americas. It retains much of its original architecture and now houses the Museo Regional de Tlaxcala. This site therefore combines the history of the monastery with its present-day function as a museum, appealing to visitors interested in both architecture and museums.

The Catedral de Tlaxcala is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Asunción; inside, it has a wooden ceiling in the Mudéjar style. The Palacio Municipal was built in the mid-16th century as the seat of the Indigenous city council. Today, murals there depict the history of Tlaxcala. These buildings bring together different aspects of the city’s history: religious architecture and the representation of municipal history.

The Teatro Xicoténcatl was built between 1923 and 1945 in the Neoclassical style. Its façade is made of Cantera stone and decorated with fan-shaped elements. The Santuario, also known as the Basílica de Ocotlán, displays a different architectural style: Baroque forms, red brick and a whitewashed surface. The wooden ceiling, stone and colorful façade offer various architectural features to look for when exploring Tlaxcala’s buildings.

Museums and City History

The Museo Vivo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares de Tlaxcala presents the history of the development of Tlaxcala’s traditional crafts. It is located at Boulevard Emilio Sánchez Piedras 1, at the corner of 1° de Mayo, in the city center. The Museo de Arte de Tlaxcala displays a selection of New Spanish painting and sculpture from the Museo del Carmen in Mexico City. The museums therefore have clearly distinct thematic focuses: traditional crafts at one, and painting and sculpture from the New Spanish tradition at the other.

Exhibitions at the Museo de la Memoria change, and it also has a monthly changing display case featuring topics from Tlaxcala’s history. The museum’s bookshop stocks specialized titles on the history and culture of the state. The museum’s offerings thus include both changing historical topics and in-depth reading.

The Portal Hidalgo on the main plaza also tells of Tlaxcala’s past. In the 16th century, it housed shops selling goods from Spain and the Philippines. The original wooden pillars were altered over time. The Plaza de Toros Jorge “el Ranchero” Aguilar is considered one of Mexico’s oldest and most beautiful bullrings.

The Parque Nacional Xicoténcatl encompasses the historic center of the city of Tlaxcala. This connection adds a look at the protected-area framework that includes the historic center to the cultural topics.

Routes and Festival Traditions

A 2015 inventory of tourist destinations lists a walking tourist route through the historic center and a tourist tram route. For your travel planning, it is advisable to check current information about the routes and operations.

The Tlaxcala Carnival begins on the Friday before Ash Wednesday with the “tormento del tragafuegos.” During this ritual, an effigy is burned from the feet up to the head—as a symbolic burning of bad humor. If the festival is the reason for your trip, check the specific dates for that year in advance.

Discover more destinations: Chiautempan, Santa María Ixtulco, Huamantla, Santa María Atlihuetzián, Terrenate, Tlaxco, Totolac, Apizaco.

For the main travel overview: Tlaxcala.