Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Madre is Puebla – originally named Puebla de los Angeles (City of the Angels) in 1531. Capital of the state of the same name, it can be reached by a 129km- (80.5 mile-) drive southwest from Mexico City. It is famous for its colonial architecture with glazed tiles (known as Talavera after a town in Spain), which cover most of the church domes and house walls, and for the skilled craftspeople who produce them. Tiles and other ceramics can be purchased in El Parián market and in the street leading to Plazuela de los Sapos. The Convention Center, a modern building of striking elegance and clean lines, reflects its artistic heritage in its choice of tiles and use of natural materials found within the state. This juxtaposition of ancient and modern is made explicit with a walkway that literally bridges the convention center and the Barrio del Artista (Artists’ Quarter). In 1988, UNESCO declared Puebla part of the ‘Cultural Heritage of Mankind’. Highlights include the Cathedral (one of the oldest in Mexico), which has 14 chapels and is built of blue-grey stone. Its towers, at 69m (226ft), are the highest in Mexico. The building thus dominates the arcade-lined zócalo with its beautiful gardens and Fuente de San Miguel (Saint Michael Fountain), the patron saint of the city. Opposite the cathedral is the Palacio Municipal, which was remodeled in accordance with the Neo-Classical architectural guidelines issued under the Porfirian dictatorship. The Church of Santo Domingo is famous for its Capilla del Rosario (Rosary Chapel), a breathtaking masterpiece in goldleaf that was consecrated in 1690. Puebla’s colonial heritage is also expressed in the architectural riches of its former monasteries and casonas (mansions). Two of the best examples of colonial mansions are the Casa de los Muñecos (Dolls’ House), the tiles on the façade depicting the Labors of Hercules (the building is now the University Museum), and the Casa del Alfeñique (Sugar Paste House), which displays craftware and regional costumes. The city has several fine museums, including Museo Bello (Pueblan Talavera and colonial religious artifacts); Museo Ampara (a superb pre-Hispanic collection of artifacts); and the Ex-Convento de Santa Rosa & Museo de Artesanías (Pueblan State handicrafts). Now a hotel, the Ex-Convento de la Concepción, is a startling reminder of the wealth of the church during the colonial period, with its beautifully preserved cloisters and wall paintings. From Puebla, it is possible to see the volcanoes of Popocatépetl, Iztaccíhuatl, Malinche and Citlaltépetl.