Cholula, Puebla
Cholula
San Pedro Cholula/San Andrés Cholula | ||
---|---|---|
City and District | ||
San Pedro Cholula | ||
Postal code (of seat) 72810 | ||
Area code | 222 | |
Demonym | Choluteco | |
Website | (in Spanish) San Andrés and SanPedro |
Cholula (Spanish:
The city and district of Cholula are divided into two:
This division has pre-Hispanic origins as does the division into two municipalities. The city is unified by a complicated system of shared religious responsibilities, called cargas, which function mostly to support a very busy calendar of saints' days and other festivals which occur in one part or another almost all year round. The most important of these festivals is that dedicated to the Virgin of the Remedies, the patron of the city in its entirety, which occurs at the beginning of September. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth. Pre-Columbian Cholula grew from a small village to a regional center during the 7th century. It is the oldest still-inhabited city in the Americas.
City makeup and non religious landmarks
General description
The city of Cholula is located just west of the state capital of Puebla and is part of its metropolitan area. The city is divided into two municipalities, called San Pedro Cholula and San Andrés Cholula, which also include a number of smaller communities that surround the city proper. The main plaza of the city is located in the municipality of San Pedro Cholula, but the Great Pyramid, located only a few blocks away, is located in San Andrés Cholula. Of the two sub-divisions, San Andrés is more residential and has the higher indigenous population.[3][4] The city as a whole is officially called the Distrito Cholula de Rivadavia. It was created in 1895 and named in honor of Bernardino de Rivadavia.[5]
Since the early colonial period, the city has been organized into eighteen barrios or neighborhoods. The pre-Hispanic city had official neighborhoods, called capullis, which the Spanish reorganized around parish churches, each with a patron saint.[6] The official chronicler of the city, however, still refers to the neighborhoods by their pre-Hispanic term.[4] Eight of the barrios are located in the municipality of San Andrés and ten are located in San Pedro. The neighborhoods of San Pedro Cholula are San Miguel Tianguisnahuac, Jesús Tlatempa, Santiago Mixquitla, San Matías Cocoyotla, San Juan Calvario Texpolco, San Cristóbal Tepontla, Santa María Xixitla, La Magdalena Coapa, San Pedro Mexicaltzingo and San Pablo Tecama. The neighborhoods of San Andres Cholula are San Miguel Xochimehuacan, Santiago Xicotenco, San Pedro Colomoxco, Santa María Coaco, La Santísima, San Juan Aquiahuac, San Andresito and Santo Niño. Most of these barrios have a patron saint's name followed by the indigenous name (from the Nahuatl language) that remains from the pre-Hispanic period. The neighborhoods closest to the center are urbanized, with those on the edges of the city maintaining more of their rural character, with economies based primarily on agriculture and brick-making. The main unifying factor of these neighborhoods and municipalities is a complicated framework of regular cyclical social events, which are sponsored in rotation among the various barrios.[6] Many Cholutecans still use their pre-Hispanic surnames, such as former town stewards Raymundo Tecanhuehue and Humberto Tolama Totozintle. This is because a number of members of the old Indian nobility were allowed certain privileges after the Conquest.[4]
The city is located on the flat plains of the Valley of Puebla, with
On the east side of the main plaza is the 16th-century
Because of the student population associated with the Universidad de las Américas, and the area's popularity with tourists, the city has a lively nightclub and bar scene, mostly concentrated around the main plaza and in a part of the San Andrés municipality. The bars and clubs in San Andres mostly cater to students while the ones in the center cater for a more varied crowd. This also includes a line of strip clubs along Avenida 14 Oeste between 5 de Mayo and Calle 2 Norte. Some of these establishments include Unit, Bar-Restaurant Enamorada, La Casa del Mojito and Jazzatlán Café. However, the city is quiet during the week when these establishments are closed.[3]
As the modern city is built over what was a major pre-Hispanic metropolis, a large part of the area has been designated as an archeological heritage site. However, only six of the 154 hectares (380 acres) declared as such have been investigated as most of the land is privately owned. This includes the Pyramid and some areas under streets where water pipes and sewerage have been modernized. There is opposition to further exploration by many residents as they are concerned that the excavation will cause inconvenience, expropriation of their lands or that the excavated areas will be subject to vandalism.[12]
Landmarks
La Quinta Luna is a 17th-century house located in the Santa María Xixitla neighborhood, cataloged by
Container City is a complex constructed from large shipping containers, located at the intersection of 12 Oeste and 2 Norte. The idea is from England, but this version was built by a Mexican organization. Fifty of these containers have been joined and painted with bright colors to create 4,500 metres (14,800 ft) of spaces used to house workshops, restaurants, galleries and other businesses. There are even a few homes made of the containers in the area. The hallways have wireless Internet service, a music lounge for visitors, an entertainment area, ping pong tables and more. Some of the businesses inside include Beat Box, Hackl breads, Smart Mac, Vibra (a meditation center) and a bar called Fónica.[13]
Parque Loro is a petting zoo containing more than 400 animals, including endangered species like monkeys, tigers, jaguars, pumas, reptiles and miniature horses. It has an auditorium with animal shows. It also has a playground, an area for pre-Hispanic dance and an area in which visitors can have their picture taken with an animal.[14]
The city contains a number of traditional Mexican markets. The largest of these is the Mercado Municipal. This market has conserved its traditional look with women seated on the floor selling seeds, flowers, herbs, and more.
There is a community just outside the city on the San Andrés side called San Luis Tehuiloyocan, which has a 17th-century house, which is boarded up and the exterior is deteriorated. This house is not promoted for tourism and generally not talked about.
The Antigua Casa del Gobernador (Old Governor's House) was probably built after San Andrés received its status as an Indian Republic, which was in 1714. This building held sessions of the council, elections for governor, mayors and other officials of the Republic. During the 19th century, it remained as the city council hall, but today is a multipurpose facility.[14]
Churches
It is said that the city of Cholula has 365 churches, either one for each day of the year or one for each pre-Hispanic temple that used to be there.
The architectural styles of these churches vary from
Various church steeples in the city fell during the 2017 Puebla earthquake.[21]
Most of the rest of the city's churches date from the 17th to the 19th centuries and many of them are parish churches which belong to the various neighborhoods or barrios of the city proper. However, there are also several important churches in the smaller communities of the two municipalities just outside the urban area. The Parish of San Pedro is the parish church for the San Pedro municipality. It was built in the 17th century and is located facing the main square of the city. The style is a mixture of Baroque and Renaissance, with a Churrigueresque cupola.[3] Other important churches of the San Pedro municipality include the parishes of San Miguel Tianguishhahuatl, Jesus Tlatempa, Santiago Mixquitla, San Matias Cocoyotla, San Juan Texpolco, San Cristóbal Tepontla, San Juan Texpolco, Santa Maria Xixitla, La Magdalena Coapa, San Pedro Mexicaltzingo, San Pablo Tecama, Santa Cruz de Jerusalén, Santo Sepulcro and San Miguelito.[16]
The parish church of the San Andrés municipality was begun in the first third of the 16th century and finished in the first half of the 17th. The main façade is made of gray sandstone with three levels on which is a very large image of the
Two other significant churches in this part of the city are the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios and the Church of San Francisco Acatepec. Nuestra Señora de los Remedios is the best known as it is the church that is located on top of the Cholula Pyramid. This church was built in 1594 and is home to an image of the Virgin of the Remedies, the patron of Cholula. The first church collapsed in an earthquake in 1854 and was rebuilt. The new church was damaged again by an earthquake in 1999 but repaired. The pyramid it is on was a pilgrimage site in pre-Hispanic times, and it remains one now with people coming to visit this Virgin image.[3]
One other important church of the San Andrés municipality is the Church of Santa María Tonantzintla, which is valued for its decoration in what is called folk or indigenous Baroque.[8]
Pyramid of Cholula and Our Lady of Remedies Church
The most important tourist attraction of the city is the
The pyramid
According to myth, the pyramid was built by a giant named Xelhua of adobe bricks, after he escaped a flood in the neighboring Valley of Mexico.[18] The pyramid is small part of the archeological zone of Cholula, which is estimated at 154 hectares (380 acres).[25] Building of the pyramid began in the pre Classic period and over time was built over six times to its final dimensions of 120 metres (390 ft) on each side at the base and 18 metres (59 ft) tall.[4][9] This base is four times the size of that of the Great Pyramid of Giza and is the largest pyramid base in the Americas.[9][26] Two of the stages of construction use talud-tablero architecture which was also used in Teotihuacan .[9] Some of the pyramid constructions have had burials, with skeletons found in various positions, with many offerings, especially ceramics.[27] The last state of construction has stairs on the west side leading to a temple on top, which faced Iztaccíhuatl.[9]
However, the pyramid has been overgrown for centuries. In the 12th century, after the Toltec–Chichimecas took over the city, religious focus shifted away from the pyramid and to a new temple. By the time the Spanish arrived, the pyramid was overgrown,[17] and by the 19th century it was still undisturbed, with only the church built in the 16th century visible.[24]
Exploration of the pyramid began in 1931 under architect Ignacio Marquina who dug tunnels to explore the substructures. The successive pyramids and other structures of the site have been given letters and numbers to identify them, with 'Building A' designating the first pyramid constructed. Two major sets of explorations were undertaken at the site. The first was between 1931 and 1957, and the second was between 1966 and 1974. There is still minor work ongoing.[7][16]
These excavations have dug about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) of tunnels inside the pyramid, which began with two in 1931 to prove that the hill was an archeological find. Within, he discovered altars with offerings, floors, walls and buried human remains from around 900 CE.[4][25] Today, only about 800 meters of these tunnels are open to the public, which have been made into well-lit, arched passages.[3][25] Visitors enter on the north side, through the center of the pyramid and exit on the south side.[17] There are few signs explaining the structures within, but in one section allows a view of main staircases of one of the pyramids, whose nine floors have been excavated from bottom to top.[3] There are also two famous murals. One is called "Chapulines" which consists of images of grasshoppers with a black skull in the middle. And the other is the "Bebidores" which depicts various figures drinking out of vessels most commonly used for pulque.[27] Cholula, despite its importance, has not been studied as intensively as other Mesoamerican sites, and most of what does exist are technical field reports with few syntheses of data gathered. For this reason, it has not played a significant role in the understanding of Mesoamerica to date.[28] Due to the condition of the surface and the large number of artifacts just under the surface, it is not possible to reconstruct the last stage of the pyramid to what it was.[25] Around the pyramid, there are a number of other structures and patios, which form a massive complex.[9] The Patio of the Altars was the main access to the pyramid and is named for the various altars that surround a main courtyard.[17]
The Cholula Pyramid site museum is located across the street from the north side of the pyramid, separated by the main road that connects Cholula to Puebla.[25] It is a small museum with two halls. The first contains a model cut away to show the various stages of the pyramid's construction. The second hall features finds from the area including clay figures, pots, other containers, and items of stone and shell, along with recreations of the two main murals of the pyramid complex.[14] There is also a small enclosure with reproductions of the two main murals of the pyramid.[3] For many years the museum was a psychiatric hospital run by Catholic brothers before it was converted to a museum.
The Quetzalcoatl ritual is performed on the pyramid on both the spring and fall
Nuestra Señora de los Remedios church
The pyramid was a place of pilgrimage in the
There are a number of stories of how the particular physical image of the Virgin of the Remedies came to the sanctuary, but she was most likely brought by Franciscan missionaries from Spain for their friary. The image measures 27 centimetres (11 in) tall, similar to those brought by Hernán Cortés and leading to speculation what it was brought by him. Images like this brought by him include the Virgin Conquistador in the San Francisco friary in Puebla, the Virgin of the Defense at the Altar of the Kings in the Puebla cathedral, the Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos, the Virgin of Zapopan and the Virgin of Juquila. There is a story that states that the image was lost from the friary and a bright image of her appeared over the pyramid. The light attracted the Franciscans, who climbed the structure to find the physical image there. This prompted the decision to build the sanctuary to her in this place.[36] 8 September is when the apparition of the image is celebrated, but the image is honored starting the first, and the local annual fair runs from the first to the fifteenth.[32]
The sanctuary to this Virgin manifestation was established in 1594, with the first church built between then and 1666.
After climbing the pyramid, there are 48 steps extending 260 metres (850 ft) up to the church atrium. The atrium cross is placed near the main gate. It dates from 1666 and is identical to the atrium crosses at the San Gabriel Friary and the church of San Miguel Tianguisnahutl.[16] The atrium is small, but its position at the top of the pyramid affords views of the Popocatepetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes, the flat valley floor and the large number of church cupolas that dot the city.[3] The exterior of the church is plain but has a dome covered in multicolored tiles from Puebla.[16]
The interior of the church is Baroque with Neoclassical elements, which is sometimes called "Republican Baroque."[40] It contains oil paintings such as those depicting the birth of the Virgin Mary, the Announcement to the Virgin Mary, Mary and Joseph, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Sculptures include those of the Archangel Michael on the main altar, Diego de Alcalá, and Salvador of Horta .[40] The altars are made of wood and plaster painted white and decorated in gold leaf. There is also gold leaf on the vaults and walls. The cupola contains allegorical paintings and on the pendentives, there are the four doctors of the Catholic Church, Francis de Geronimo, Pope Gregory I, Ambrose and Augustine of Hippo, as well as images of John Duns Scotus, Bonaventure, Bernard of Siena, and Anthony of Padua. There are also allegories representing Justice, Faith and Virtue. The vaults contain images related to the praying of the Rosary.[16][41]
Neighborhoods and festivals
Barrios and cargas
The city of Cholula is made up of two municipalities: San Pedro Cholula and San Andrés Cholula. The more important social division is a system of neighborhoods or barrios. San Pedro consists of eight neighborhoods: are San Miguel Tianguisnahuac, Jesús Tlatempa, Santiago Mixquitla, San Matias Cocoyotla, San Juan Calvario Texpolco, San Cristóbal Tepontla, Santa María Xixitla, La Magdalena Coapa, San Pedro Mexicaltzingo and San Pablo Tecama. San Andrés consists of ten: San Miguel Xochimehuacan, Santiago Xicotenco, San Pedro Colomoxco, Santa María Coaco, La Santísima, San Juan Aquiahuac, San Andresito and Santo Niño. In the pre-Hispanic period, the city was a mixture of ethnicities. What unified them was a common religious belief. After the Conquest, the Spanish reorganized the pre-Hispanic neighborhoods, or capullis, around various patron saints. These neighborhoods remain to this day, whose names refer to their patron saint affixed before the original pre-Hispanic name. The neighborhoods closest to the center are urbanized, with those on the edges of the city maintaining more of their rural character, with economies based on agriculture and brick making.[6]
Despite five centuries of change and growth since the Conquest, modem Cholultecans maintain many traditional practices, which exist within a vital fabric of local religious and cultural life.[11] These traditional practices very likely have pre Hispanic roots, including a ten-year cycle, called the "circular" of rotating citywide religious duties among the various neighborhoods.[4] They continue today
There are religious festivals of one kind or another almost all year round somewhere in the Cholula area.
Cargas generally last for one year and start small, such as being in charge of cleaning the neighborhood church, collecting alms and acting as a go-between for the priest and parishioners. However, most involve the sponsorship of the many religious festivals that take place in the city. This system is one of the more complex of its type in the world. Receiving a carga gives the person, called a mayordomo, prestige from the community since he is considered to be working for the common good. Mayordomos can be men, women and even children. The most prestigious carga is to be the mayordomo of the neighborhood's patron saint. This mayordomo receives a certain amount of authority and even a silver
Important festivals
The most important festival period in Cholula extends from 31 August to the middle of September, which revolves around the patron saint of the city, the Virgin of the Remedies. On the night of August 31, there is the Procesión de los Faroles ('Procession of the Lamps'). It begins with a procession around the streets of the city, with each neighborhood carrying an image of its patron saint. At 9pm, the procession arrives to San Gabriel friary to sing and pray during what is called the hora santa ('holy hour'). The night ends at the Nuestra Señora de los Remedios church on top of the pyramid with Mass and the singing of Las Mañanitas to the Virgin. This tradition is recent, being only about twenty years old.[18]
The feast of the Virgin of the Remedies officially begins on September 1 and lasts for about a week. The events of the week lead up to September 8, which is the Virgin's day, which commemorates her appearance in the city. Events include indigenous dancing such as the Concheros performed in the atrium and other locations, and pilgrims bring offerings to the image. In the afternoon, there is a burning of images called panzones.[17][18] A panzon is an effigy made of crêpe paper with fireworks in its belly. Panzon means "large belly." This effigy is burned, with the fireworks going off last. After it is burned, it is taken to the neighborhood which is charged with the creation of a new one the following year.[18]
After the veneration of the image, visitors gather in the Concordia Plaza for the "trueque" (trade), to exchange and sell goods, a tradition from the pre-Hispanic period. Common items include
The next most important citywide event is called the Bajada de la Virgen, which also involves the Virgin of the Remedies. This time, instead of the masses climbing the pyramid to honor her, she comes down for two weeks in May or June to visit the various neighborhoods and surrounding rural communities.[3] The tradition of bringing down the image from the pyramid began in 1825. The next occurred in 1870 and the third in 1890. Today, it is an annual event, but it is not the original image which leaves, rather it is a substitute. The reason for this is that the processions take a toll on the ancient image. The replicas of the image are considered to be "sisters" to the original, with the impression that it is the idea of the Virgin which is important, not the physical image. The last time the original image left the church was in 1999, due to the earthquake. It was kept at the friary of San Gabriel until it could be returned after repairs.[38] During the Bajada, the image is carried through the streets in some portion of the city every morning, which has been prepared with elaborate gateways of flowers, and more decorating the route.[3] When the image comes down off the pyramid, she travels through all ten neighborhoods three times in an event called the circulares. Each circulare is dedicated to a different saint, and presided over by a mayordomo. Each neighborhood sponsors one of the circulares every ten years, providing food and drink, incense and other necessities for the rite. She descends again on August 11, all the way to the town of San Luis Tehuiloyocan.[42] These acts of “popular” piety may be hard to some to understand; these practices trace back to almost 500 years, with the arrival of the first Franciscan friars and the original “religious” purpose may have become shrouded with the cultural aspects of these celebrations over the years
Like a number of other cities in the area, such as Huejotzingo, Cholula celebrates Carnival, this tradition began over 90 years ago, with events centered on the main square of the city.[7][43] The principal dancers of this event are called the Huehues, which means "ancient ones" in Nahuatl. Overall, the event has the participation of over 3,000 dancers from the various neighborhoods as well as from other parts of Puebla and Tlaxcala states.[43] This is one of the events which brings in crowds from Puebla city, Mexico City and surrounding towns, crowding the streets.[3]
The Quetzalcóatl Ritual is celebrated on the
Concierto para Campanas (Bell Concert) also called the Vaniloquio is an event when most of the city's thirty seven churches coordinate their ringing to music written by Llorenc Barber especially for the purpose.[27] The concert involves more than 150 bells, rung by 130 people.[3][18] The most important day for this event is 28 November, but it also occurs on the Sunday after Ash Wednesday.[7] Three rockets fired from the center of the city signals the beginning. The city recommends that listeners climb onto a rooftop or the Pyramid or wander the streets to hear the concert best. The concert is proceeded by Aztec dance in the main square, as well as a cheese, bread and wine tasting event.[7][44]
There are numerous events associated with Lent and Holy Week, some of which bring in large number of visitors into the city.[3] The Tlahuanca is an event held on the fourth Monday of Lent at the Capilla Real. Originally, it was a festival held on the street, involving drinking to excess. The name comes from the word tlāhuānqui, which means drunk. Today, it is a procession inside the Capilla Real in which wooden crosses are handed out and a host offers food to visitors. To commemorate the death of the Virgin Mary, sawdust carpets dyed in various colors, flowers and plant matter is arranged in patterns on the ground to form what are called Las Alfombras or 'carpets'. It is also done during the night before Good Friday for the Stations of the Cross procession that passes by a number of the churches on various streets in the city. The Altepeilhuitl is an event that takes place on the Sunday before the Thursday marking the ascension of Christ at the Capilla Real. Here images of towns' and neighborhoods' patron saints are adorned with fruit, squash, chili peppers, corn and bread and presented. This tradition dates back into the colonial period.[18]
In May, there is the Fiesta de Pobres and Labradores ('Festival of the Poor and Laborers'). It is also known as the Feast of the
There is also a number of fairs dedicated to local products. The Feria del Nopal ('Nopal Cactus Fair') in San Bernardino Tlaxcalanzingo celebrates the main crop grown in the municipality. It occurs during the first week of June.[14] The Feria del Queso ('Cheese Fair') is held in Santa Maria Tonantzintla and is held in honor of the Virgin of the Conception. There is an exposition and sale of local cheeses at the main plaza of the municipality on the first weekend of August.[14] There is also an annual festival dedicated to bread in which an enormous brick oven is constructed on the main plaza and local bread makers demonstrate traditional techniques. Over 150 types of bread are exhibited and sold during the event.[7]
Events related to Day of the Dead in Cholula extend over five days, and are based on rites from the pre-Hispanic period. The first day is 28 October, when a flower-covered cross is placed on homes to welcome deceased loved ones. The souls that arrive on this date are those who died in accidents. On the 29th, those who died from drowning or suffocation arrive. On the 30th, it is the souls of deceased children in limbo, and on the 31st other children. The first and second are for adults. As in other parts of Mexico, the dead are received through large altars placed in homes, filled with the food and drink they enjoyed in life as well as flowers and other decorations.[45]
Between these major events, there are numerous patron saint's days for all the neighborhoods and other communities of the two municipalities of San Pedro and San Andrés. Many of these events include amusement rides, fireworks,
History
Pre-Hispanic period
The name of Cholula comes from the
Settlement of Cholula began between 500 and 200 BC (
During this time period, there is also evidence of influence from the larger Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico.[9][28] However, the exact nature of the relationship between the two cities is not entirely known. One stage of the Great Pyramid is done in talud-tablero architecture, similar to that of Teotihuacan, but the next stage uses a different style, with stairs leading to the top on all four sides. The stage after this one, built during the decline of Teotihuacan, again returns to talud-tablero. Pottery styles between the two cities are similar, especially in the early Classic period, but living spaces and some religious iconography was different. When Teotihuacan declined, Cholula also suffered a significant population decline. At this time, the area took part in the Epi-classic central Mexican culture, and the iconography changes to show Gulf coast influence. Religious focus was kept on the Great Pyramid, but added its own layers to the work.[28]
In the 12th century,
In the Post-classic period, Cholula (900–1521) grew to its largest size and returned to its status as a regionally dominant city. The city's location was strategic, on the trade routes between the Valley of Mexico, the
Colonial period
By the time the Spanish arrived, Cholula was a major religious and mercantile center, with the Quetzalcoatl Temple one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the central Mexican highlands.[5][14][47] Hernán Cortés estimated that the city had 430 temples and about 20,000 homes in the center of the city with another 20,000 on the periphery.[5][28] Cortés was attracted to the pastureland of the valley area,[28] but while there was a great deal of irrigated farms, the city had a population of about 100,000[17] and overpopulation meant that many poor people often lacked food.[28]
Cortés had arrived to Cholula after the Spanish victory of the
However, unlike many other pre-Hispanic cities, which were abandoned or destroyed before or immediately after the Conquest, Cholula has remained to this day.
Cholula was given the status of a city in 1535, and granted a coat of arms in 1540 by Charles V.[5] Over the colonial period, forty seven churches were constructed in the city.[5] However, the division of the city along ethnic lines, would impact itself again. In 1714, the San Andrés sector of the city, where most of the indigenous people lived, petitioned to be separated from the San Pedro sector to become an "Indian republic," and it was granted. This gave this part of the city limited autonomy.[14]
Independence to the present
San Pedro and San Andrés were formed into two municipalities in the 1860s under the 1861 Puebla Constitution.[14][22] The city that spans the two political entities was named the Distrito Cholula de Rivadavia in 1895 by the state in honor of Bernardino Rivadavia.[5]
Economy and tourism
The main economic activities of the city are commerce and agriculture, although the economy is shifting away from agriculture.[5] Commerce, including tourism, is mostly concentrated in the city proper, while agriculture and certain industries such as brick making, are mostly found in the edge of the city and in the rural areas of the municipalities of San Pedro Cholula and San Andrés Cholula.[6] Despite being a city in its own right, Cholula is part of the Puebla metropolitan area, with residential areas encroaching onto former farmland.[3][5]
Most of the San Pedro municipality is dedicated to agriculture, much of which is irrigated and represents most of the irrigated farmland in the Cholula area.
Industry, mining and construction employs 39% of the population in San Pedro,[5] and just under 30% in San Andrés.[22] Industry in San Pedro includes the making of bricks, cinderblock and clay roof tiles, textiles, chemicals, metals, furniture, ceramics and glass.[5] Most industry in San Andrés is related to the making of cheese and other dairy products, furniture and rustic ironwork.[22] The entire area is involved in the making of hard apple cider as well.[6]
Commerce, services and tourism employs 39% of the population of San Pedro and about 35% of the population of San Andrés.[5][22] Tourism is based on the city's history, with the main tourist attractions are the Great Pyramid, topped by the Nuestra Señora de los Remedios church, the San Gabriel friary and colored towers of the total of thirty seven churches in the city.[3][5] Images of this church on top of the pyramid with Popocateptl in the background are frequently used in Mexico's national promotion of tourism.[4] It is one of the better known destinations in central Mexico for foreign travelers.[15] Commercial activity is based on tourism, local and regional needs as well as the city's active nightlife, with that of San Andrés more gear to local and regional commerce than that of San Pedro.[5][22]
Geography
Cholula is located in the center west of the state of Puebla in the Valley of Puebla, 122 kilometres (76 mi) east of Mexico City and eight km west of Puebla.
The San Pedro municipality has twenty two communities outside the city; the largest of which are Almoloya, San Cosme Tezintla, Acuexcomac, San Cristóbal Tepontla, San Agustín Calvario, Zacapechpan, San Matías Cocoyotla, San Diego Cuachayotla, and San Francisco Cuapa. These communities primary economic activities are agriculture, floriculture and brick making.[5] Other important communities of San Andrés outside the city include San Francisco Acatepec, San Antonio Cacalotepec, San Rafael Comac, San Luis Tehuiloyocan, San Bernardino Tlaxcalancingo and Santa Maria Tonanzintla.[22]
The geography of the Cholula area is mostly flat with an average altitude of between 2,100 and 2,200 metres (6,900–7,200 ft) above sea level. There is a gentle descent from Northwest to Southeast along the Atoyac River. Apart from the Great Pyramid and some low hills in the towns of San Francisco Acatepec and Santa María Tonantzintla,[5][22] the Zapotecas (2,377 metres, 7,799 ft) is the main elevation, located 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) West of the main square. One of the many legends about the Zapotecas tells of a man who made a pact with a demon in order to obtain money to sponsor a festival.[18] The hill is a popular location for mountain biking and off-road motorcycles. Each year, there is a mountain biking event that begins from the main square of Cholula and extends for 50 kilometres (31 mi) through a number of small communities.[16] San Andrés has a parasailing school, which trains beginners and organizes parasailing events which take place in the nearby Ocoyucan municipality.[14]
Hydrography
The Valley of Puebla is an expanse of plains crossed by a number of small rivers, streams and
Flora
The only forested area is an area associated with the Sierra del Tentzo, which contains oak forests and scrub. The rest of the area is either farmland or covered by human settlements.[22]
Climate
The area has a temperate
Demographics
The population of the Distrito Cholula de Rivadavia, or the city of Cholula was 118,170 as of 2005[update]. This population divides into 35,206 on the San Andres side and 82,964 on the San Pedro side. The total population for the two municipalities, including the communities outside the city proper is 193,554 (80,118 for San Andres and 113,436 for San Pedro).[51][52] there is an approximate population growth of about 3%.[5] Almost all of the population identifies as Catholic with only between 3.5 and 4% identifying as Evangelical or Protestant.[5][22] Most of the population of Cholula is mestizo; however, there are a number of indigenous families that live here, with more on the San Andrés side.[4][5][22]
Education
The Cholula area has fifty eight preschools, sixty nine primary schools, fifty four middle schools, sixteen high schools, six technical/professional schools above the high school level and an extension of the Universidad de las Américas. The larger percentage of schools is on the San Pedro side of the city.[5][22]
The city is home to one major university, the private
Transportation
The city is served by an intercity bus station run by Estrella Roja; it was previously served by the Puebla-Cholula Tourist Train, which connected it with the city of Puebla. There are also more local busses between Cholula and the city of Puebla run by Super Rápidos. There are also numerous "colectivos" or collective taxis and mini vans connecting with more local destinations.[3]
See also
References
- ^ "Archivo histórico de localidades - Cholula de Rivadavia". National Institute of Statistics and Geography. Archived from the original on 2014-10-30.
- ^ "Mapa Zona metropolitana de Puebla-Tlaxcala" (PDF). National Institute of Statistics and Geography.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Cholula". Let's Go Publications, Inc. 1960–2011. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Kastelein, Barbara (February 2004). "The Sacred City". Business Mexico. 14 (2). Mexico City: 56–60.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "Puebla-San Pedro Cholula". Municipal Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México (in Spanish). Mexico: Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal. 2009. Archived from the original on September 7, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Demi (January 2008). "Los barrios de Cholula" [The neighborhoods of Cholula]. Mexico Desconocido magazine (in Spanish). Mexico City. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "San Pedro Cholula-La Ciudad" [San Pedro Cholula-The City] (in Spanish). Cholula, Mexico: Ayuntamiento de San Pedro Cholula. 2008–2011. Archived from the original on January 7, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Ochoa, Vicente (November 21, 1999). "Cholula y Tonantzintla, tesoros de Puebla" [Cholulaand Tonantzintla, treasures of Puebla]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 6.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "San Pedro Cholula – Historia" [San Pedro Cholula-History] (in Spanish). Cholula, Mexico: Ayuntamiento de San Pedro Cholula. 2008–2011. Archived from the original on November 3, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ Boy, Alicia (April 13, 2003). "Fin de Semana" [Weekend]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 2.
- ^ .
- ^ Rivas, Francisco (April 10, 2007). "Impiden rescatar vestigios" [Preventing the recovery of remains]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 10.
- ^ a b c Otero, Karla. "Cholula. Ayer y hoy" [Cholula Yesterday and today]. Mexico Desconocido (in Spanish). Mexico City. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Turismo" [Tourism] (in Spanish). Cholula, Mexico: Municipality of San Andrés Cholula. Archived from the original on February 13, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ a b c Ibarra, Mariel (July 13, 2002). "Cholula: Antigedad en todos los rincones" [Cholula: Antiquity in every corner]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 16.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "San Pedro Cholula – Guia Turistica" [San Pedro Cholula-Tour Guide] (in Spanish). Cholula, Mexico: Ayuntamiento de San Pedro Cholula. 2008–2011. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-86450-089-9. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "San Pedro Cholula – Tradiciones y Leyendas" [San Pedro Cholula-Traditions and Legends] (in Spanish). Cholula, Mexico: Ayuntamiento de San Pedro Cholula. 2008–2011. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ Rivas, Franciso (July 21, 2008). "Refuerzan iglesias contra los saqueos" [Reinforcing churches against sacking]. El Norte (in Spanish). Monterrey, Mexico. p. 19.
- ^ "Cierran por robos iglesias de Cholula" [Cholula churches closing due to robberies]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. July 21, 2010. p. 1.
- ^ Henderson, Barney; Horton, Helena; Strange, Hannah (20 September 2017). "Mexico City earthquake: At least 273 dead as buildings reduced to rubble". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Puebla-San Andrés Cholula". Municipal Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México (in Spanish). Mexico: Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo. 2009. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ a b Rivas, Francisco (March 15, 2007). "Protegen a Cholula" [Protecting Cholula]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 11.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8173-5456-5.
- ISSN 0010-7565.
- ^ a b c Bermeo, Laura G (October 11, 1998). "Cholula: un concierto de campanas" [Cholula: A concert of bells]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Bullock Kreger, Meggan M (2010). Urban population dynamics in a preindustrial New World city: Morbidity, mortality, and immigration in postclassic Cholula (PhD thesis). The Pennsylvania State University. Docket AAT 3436082.
- ^ Vazquez, p. 7
- ^ Vazquez, p. 11
- ^ Vazquez, p. 9
- ^ a b c Vazquez, p. 14
- ^ Vazquez, p. 12
- ^ Vazquez, p. 5
- ^ Vazquez, p. 17
- ^ Vazquez, pp. 5–6
- ^ Vazquez, p. 6
- ^ a b c d Vazquez, p. 18
- ^ a b Vazquez, p. 15
- ^ a b Vazquez, p. 20
- ^ Vazquez, p. 21
- ^ Vazquez, p. 19
- ^ a b "Fortalecen Carnaval" [Strengthening Carnival]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. February 22, 2010. p. 18.
- ^ Ortiz de Zarate, Maryell; Ricardo Diazmunoz (November 16, 2003). "Cholula, Puebla: Acuda a escuchar los tanidos nocturnos" [Cholula, Puebla: Make an appointment to listen to the night ringing]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 9.
- ^ Martinez, Alfredo (October 24, 2004). "Cholula, Puebla: Gran ofrenda sensorial" [Cholula, Puebla: A great sensual offering]. El Norte (in Spanish). Monterrey, Mexico. p. 13.
- ^ a b Kaufman, Terrence (2001). "The history of the Nawa language group from the earliest times to the sixteenth century: some initial results" (PDF). Revised March 2001. Project for the Documentation of the Languages of Mesoamerica. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-01-19. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
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(help) - ^ ISBN 978-0-87480-655-7.
- ISBN 0140441239
- ISBN 978-0807055014
- ISBN 978-1-4039-6258-4.
- ^ "Principales resultados por localidad 2005 (ITER)". INEGI. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
- ^ a b "Universidad de las Américas-Ciudad de Mexico" [University of the Americas-Mexico City] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Universidad de las Américas. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ a b "Historia" [History] (in Spanish). Cholula, Mexico: Universidad de las Américas-Puebla. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ "Oferta Académica de la Universidad de las Américas Puebla" [Academic offering of the University of the Americas, Puebla] (in Spanish). Cholula, Mexico: Universidad de las Américas-Puebla. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
Bibliography
- Cordero Vazquez, Donato (2000). Virgen de los Remedios en Cholula [Virgin of the Remedies in Cholula] (in Spanish). Puebla, Mexico: Media IV Impresion Visual. ISBN 978-970-94806-6-5.
- Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
- Puebla Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México
External links
- Ayuntamiento de San Andrés Cholula Official website (in Spanish)
- Municipio de San Pedro Cholula Official website (in Spanish)
- Municipio de Santa Isabel Cholula Official website (in Spanish)
- Zonas Arquelógica Cholula, Puebla state government (in Spanish)
- Universidad de las Américas – Puebla (University in San Andrés Cholula)