Puebla

Church interior, Puebla, central Mexico. Although the Republic of Mexico has no official national religion, 95% of Mexicans are Roman Catholic. Located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the city of Puebla, capital of Puebla state, was founded by the Spanish in 1532. Most of the city's architecture, including the Cathedral of Puebla and the church of Santo Domingo, is characteristically Spanish.

Industrial city and capital of Puebla state, southern central Mexico; population (1995 est) 1,222,600. It lies on the central plateau of Mexico at a height of 2,162 m/7,093 ft, and is one of the oldest settlements founded by Europeans in the country. Its industries include glass and processed food, as well as tourism.

Founded 1535 as Pueblo de los Angeles, it was later renamed after General de Zaragoza, who defeated the French here in 1862.

Puebla is a cultural centre, and is home to the Autonomous University of Puebla (1937), and the University of the Americas (1940), as well as the José Luis Bello y González Museum of Art and an 18th-century theatre.