Surroundings, Tlaxcala

About 5km/3mi north of the Tlaxcala, on the road to Apizaco, is the village of San Esteban Tizatlán, once one of the four ruling powers of the Tlaxcala republic. The remains of the palace of Xicoténcatl and two altars with interesting pre-Columbian wall-paintings can be seen here. These frescos conceived in the style of Mixtec pictographic writings depict mythological figures such as Xochiquétzal, the tutelary goddess of Tlaxcala, Tezcatlipoca ("smoking mirror"), the god of war of the north, Mictlantecuhtli, the prince of the underworld and Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, the ruler of the morning star. In the ruins there is a church with an open chapel dating from the 16th c.

Following the MEX 119 the town of Azipaco (2408 m (7900 ft); population 45,000) is reached after about 20km/12 mi). From here the MEX 136 proceeds in a south-easterly direction, arriving after 27km/17mi at the town of Huamnatla de Juárez (2560 m (8399 ft); population 90,000). The 16th c. Franciscan convent, the Baroque church (restored in the 18th c.) and the bull-fighting museum (Museo Taurino) are all worth seeing.The town is widely known for its colourful festival which takes place in August. On the 15th of the month (Assumption) bulls are driven through the streets as in Pamplona in Spain and mosaic-like carpets of flowers ("xochipetate") in honour of the Virgin of Charity (Virgen de Caridad) are spread out in the streets. At the same time a cattle market and craftwork fair are held.

Returning from Huamantla to Apizaco on the MEX 136, a new road turns off after about 13km/8mi. It leads to the "Centro Vacacional Malintzín", situated 14km/8.7mi away at an altitude of 3000 m (9800 ft). The centre is an ideal starting-point for the ascent of the extinct volcano of La Malinche (4461 m (14,636 ft)), which is named after the Indian lover and interpreter of Cortés. For the ascent about three to four hours is needed, for the descent about two hours. A second route up the volcano from San Miguel Canoa (north-east of Puebla) is considerably longer and should only be attempted by experienced mountaineers.

This village with a population of about 30,000 lies south of Tepeyanco. It features a parish church that was built in the 18th c. over the original 16th c. building.

This village is situated near a waterfall. There is a Franciscan monastery in the town.

Tepeyanco, a village with approximately 8,000 is home to a ruined Franciscan Monastery.

This 18th c. parish church features a beautiful altarpiece and a painting by Cayetano Pérez of the Last Supper.

This resort is in an old textile factory that went out of business in 1967.

Just outside Tlaxcala is a lovely parish church with an extremely fine altar.