Sights in Tlaxcala
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churches
One of Mexico's most spectacular churches is an important pilgrimage site owing to the belief that the Virgin appeared here in 1541 - her image stands on the main altar in memory of the apparition. The classic Churrigueresque facade features white stucco 'wedding cake' decorations, contrasting with plain red tiles. During the 18th century, indigenous Mexican Francisco Miguel spent 25 years decorating the altarpieces and the chapel beside the main altar.
Visible from most of town, the hilltop church is 1km northeast of the zócalo. Walk north from the zócalo on Av Juárez for three blocks, then turn right onto Zitlalpopocatl. Alternatively, catch a 'Ocotlán' colectivo fr…
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Ex-Convento Franciscano de la Asunción
This former monastery is up along a shaded path from the southeast corner of Plaza Xicohténcatl. Built between 1537 and 1540, it was one of Mexico's earliest monasteries, and its church - the city's cathedral - has a beautiful Moorish-style wooden ceiling.
Just below the monastery, beside the 19th-century Plaza de Toros (bullring), is a capilla abierta with three unique Moorish-style arches.
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Santuario de la Virgen de Ocotlán
Visible from most of town, the hilltop Santuario de la Virgen de Ocotlán stands 1km northeast of the zócalo. One of Mexico’s most spectacular churches, it’s an important pilgrimage site owing to the belief that the Virgin appeared here in 1541 – her image stands on the main altar in memory of the apparition.
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Museo de Arte de Tlaxcala
This fantastic contemporary art museum normally houses an excellent cache of early Frida Kahlo paintings, but that collection was on loan at the time of research. Both the museum’s main building on the zócalo and the smaller branch hold interesting temporary exhibits and a good permanent collection of modern Mexican art.
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Palacio de Justicia
The 16th-century building on the plaza's northwest side is the Palacio de Justicia, the former Capilla Real de Indios, built for the use of indigenous nobles. The handsome mortar bas-reliefs around its doorway include the seal of Castilla y León and a two-headed eagle, symbol of the Hapsburg monarchs who ruled Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries.
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Templo San Esteban
Next to the Tizatlán ruins, Templo San Esteban has a 16th-century Franciscan capilla abierta and frescoes of angels playing instruments. The hilltop site is 4km north of town; take a 'Tizatlán Parroquia' colectivo from the corner of Blvd Sánchez and Av Muñoz.
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Parroquia de San José
Off the northwest corner of the zócalo is the pretty-in-pink tile, brick and stucco Parroquia de San José. As elsewhere in the Centro Histórico, bilingual signs explain the significance of the church and its many fountains.
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Tizatlán ruins
All that's left of Xicoténcatl's palace is preserved under a humble shelter: two altars with some faded frescoes of the gods Tezcatlipoca (Smoking Mirror), Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli (Morning Star) and Mictlantecuhtli (Underworld).
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Museo de la Memoria
This modern history museum looks at folklore through a multimedia lens, and has well-presented exhibits on indigenous government, agriculture and contemporary festivals. Explanations are only in Spanish.
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Museo Vivo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares
This popular arts museum has displays on Tlaxcalan village life, weaving and pulque-making, sometimes with demonstrations. Artisans serve as guides to the over 3000 artifacts on display.
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Palacio Municipal
Tlaxcala's shady, spacious zócalo is one of Mexico's most fetching. The 16th-century Palacio Municipal, a former grain storehouse occupies its north side.
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Museo Regional de Tlaxcala
The Museo Regional de Tlaxcala has a large collection of religious paintings and a few pre-Columbian artifacts.
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Palacio de Gobierno
Inside the Palacio de Gobierno there are vivid murals of Tlaxcala's history by Desiderio Hernández Xochitiotzin.
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