Puebla, a city located two hours east of Mexico City, has played an important role in the nation's history: The only Mexican victory over foreign invaders took place there when Maximilian's French Foreign Legion was defeated on 5 May 1862 (now celebrated as Cinco de Mayo).
Puebla has more than 60 churches (including its grand 16th-century cathedral) and a "secret convent" (it remained active after convents and monasteries were outlawed in 1857). It's known for manufacturing colorful tiles (dating back to the 1600s), as well as antiques, pottery and mole poblano, a rich chocolate and chili sauce that was first prepared there by the nuns.
Start your visit at the Amparo Museum, which covers 30 centuries of Mexican history and has an audiovisual system that allows visitors to listen to explanations in a number of languages (be selective—there are 18 hours of narration). Museo Bello contains an impressive collection of colonial-era art, and Santa Rosa Convent is fascinating for its enormous tiled kitchen and museum of local crafts. Just strolling the city's streets is a treat: Many buildings are covered in gorgeous tiles, and shops display an irresistible array of Puebla's famous hand-painted Talavera pottery. The well-designed Africam Safari, 20 minutes out of town, features 250 species of wild animals from every part of the world.
Puebla is often used as a base for visiting nearby villages with stunning colonial churches as well as Cholula, the site of Tepanapa Pyramid, once the world's largest pyramid. Today, it is not much more than a big mound, but extensive tunnels give visitors a good view of its interior. On top of the ruins sits a Spanish church. 80 mi/130 km east of Mexico City.
Another archaeological site a little farther afield is Cantona, which was a military outpost. Perched on a high hill, it's noted for its 24 ball courts and wide plazas. Because it is somewhat off the beaten track, you won't encounter large crowds there. 70 mi/113 km northeast of Puebla.