Tepeaca Attractions

36km/22mi along the MEX 150 towards Tehuacán is Tepeaca (Náhuatl: "Tepeyacac" = Nose of the Hill; 2257 m (7407 ft); population 40,000; Friday market). Cortés founded this town in 1520 as a second settlement after Veracruz. A watch-tower ("Rollo") with Moorish and Renaissance features stands in the main square of this former post station. The Spanish are said to have chained Indian prisoners to this tower and whipped them. Cortés had the house with the red façade opposite built and is said to have lived in it after his defeat at Tenochtitlán ("Noche Triste", June 30th 1520).