Around Puebla - photos

Around Puebla: Cholula

Cholula is 15Km from Puebla and hosts the Great Pyramid, the largest man-made pyramid and monument by volume in the world. The pyramid has not been fully excavated and restored because the Spaniards built in 1594 a church, the 'Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de los Remedios", which is a major Catholic pilgrimage. So the first sight of the pyramid is a natural hill with a church on the top! But inside the pyramid, 8 km of original tunnels can be visited.

- The church or Sanctuary at the top of the hill. Only on one bottom side of the hill, the remains of the pyramid can be seen,

- Lee was posing in front of the 2 volcanoes, Popocatepelt and Iztaccihualt, called by the locals Popo and Izta. Popo, on the left, is an active volcano and is the second highest peak in Mexico. Its name in Nathualt means "smoking mountain". Izta, which name means "white woman", is the third highest peak in Mexico and is constituted by 4 peaks which depict the forms of a woman. These volcanoes can be also visible from Mexico City depending on atmospheric conditions,

- View of Popo from the highest platform leading directly to the church. The fume leaving the volcano is well visible,

- View of Cholula from the Church. In the center of the picture, the ex-convento de San Gabriel.