Mexico has more than a thousand museums, according to the Inegi and, in fact, Puebla ranks fourth, as it has 76 museums. This is a list of the most representative museums in Puebla. Some have even been recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Amparo Museum
The Museo Amparo (Amparo Museum) is housed in two colonial-era buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries that were popularly known as El Hospitalito. One was the Hospital of San Juan de Letrán, which was converted into a college for women. The other is a mansion from the 18th century.
It was joined to the hospital and then became the “Deposito de Mujeres Casadas” (Refuge of Married Women).
It was established in 1606 for women whose husbands were gone for long periods of time. However, the idea was not popular with women and in 1609, it became the asylum for “lost women,” those obligated to be secluded for some reason.
This facility was moved to another building and the building became part of the women’s college founded next door, then a convent.
The museum has fourteen exhibition halls with pottery, steles, and sculptures from the Zapotec, Huasteca, Maya, Olmec and Aztec cultures as well as fine furniture and religious objects from the colonial period and examples of contemporary art.
These represent the three epochs of Mexican history, pre-Columbian, colonial-era and post-Independence. Seven of the halls are dedicated to pre-Columbian pieces.
Palafoxiana Library
The Biblioteca Palafoxiana (Palafoxiana Library) was established in 1646 by Juan de Palafox y Mendoza for the Seminary of Puebla. He donated his own collection of 5,000 books to the College of San Juan to start the collection. It was the first library in the Americas and is the only one to survive to the present day.
The main room is in Baroque style and was constructed in 1773 by Bishop Francisco Fabian y Fuero who also named the institution after Palafox. Today the library contains over 42,000 books, 5,000 manuscripts, and other items, which date from 1473 to 1910. The Library was named a Historic Monument of Mexico (Monumento Histórico de México) and UNESCO has made it part of Memory of the World.
Centro Cultural Santa Rosa
The Centro Cultural Santa Rosa is housed in a building that dates from the 17th century which originally was housing for Dominican nuns.
Later, it became a convent named in honor of Saint Rose of Lima. This is where the story of the invention of mole poblano takes place. In 1869, it ceased being a convent and became a psychiatric hospital.
In the 20th century, the Ceramic Museum was founded in the building’s kitchen, with the rest of the building occupied as tenements for about 1500 people. In 1973, the Museo de Arte Cultural Poblano was founded and in 2000 the name was changed to the current one.
The facility offers exhibitions, shows, and art classes.
Museum of the Revolution
The Museo de la Revolución (Museum of the Revolution) was the home of Aquiles Serdán in the very early 20th century.
He was politically active in the anti-reelection (of President Porfirio Diaz) movement of the time and was accused of distributing propaganda against Díaz. Police assaulted the building and Serdán and his family fought back until Aquiles was killed.
President Francisco I. Madero stayed at the home in honor of Serdán. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Mexico City and the building became tenements and stores. Decades later, the federal government acquired the building from the family to convert it into the museum that is here today.
Fort Loreto & Fort Guadalupe
Fort Loreto and Fort Guadalupe are located in the Centro Civico 5 de Mayo part of the city. Both were instrumental to the Battle of Puebla on 5 May 1862. The chapel of the Loreto fort contains a former chapel, which is now the Museo de la No Intervención (Museum of Non-Intervention).
This is to commemorate a non-aggression pact signed by Mexico and Central American and two South American countries in the 1960s.
The Museo de Guerra del Fuerte (Fort War Museum) de Loreto y Guadalupe is located in this fort as well. This museum contains cannons, shotguns, swords, documents, and other objects related to this battle.
Gallery of Contemporary Art and Design
The Galería de Arte Contemporáneo y Diseño (Gallery of Contemporary Art and Design) is dedicated to visual arts such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, metal etching, photography, video, and others and belongs to the Secretary of Culture of the state of Puebla.
It is housed in the old La Violeta textile factory, which dates back to 1908, and was one only the many factories in this area at that time. This building was renovated between 1995 and 1998 for this museum.
José Mariano Bello y Acedo Museum
The Museo de José Mariano Bello y Acedo (José Mariano Bello y Acedo Museum) was initially founded with the private collection of the Bello family, along with works donated by friends. It originally began as a private museum or pinacotheca.
Upon José Mariano’s death, the house and collection were bequeathed to the city.
Casa de Alfeñique
The Casa de Alfeñique is named for the intricate mortar work that covers its façade. Alfeñique is a kind of sugar and almond candy. It was constructed by Antonio Santamaría de Incháurregui for Juan Ignacio Morales, who was a master ironsmith.
The façades also contain ironwork balconies, cornices, and a crown.
The house was left to the state by Alejandro Ruiz Olavarrieta in 1896. It was first used to house the first public museum in the city of Puebla. The collection contains more than 1,500 pieces of a historical nature.
Museum of Art
The Museo de Arte (Museum of Art) originally was constructed to be the Temple of San Pedro, founded in 1541 to be a church and a hospital.
Eventually, it was established as the Hospital of San Pedro y San Pablo under the direction of the Cathedral of Tlaxcala. It was functioning as a hospital by 1544, but it incurred major expenditures, forcing it to limit service to men only.
The arches of the main courtyard were completed in 1640, as well as its fountain and nursing units. In the first half of the 18th century, the hospital ceased to be under the direct control of the Cathedral, passing to the monks of the order of San Juan de Dios.
In the latter half of the century, it began to house soldiers in order to improve its finances. The hospital underwent major reforms in the early 19th century to improve medical care and began to receive medical students from the Medical-Surgical Academy of Puebla.
- In 1867, the facility became the Hospital General del Estado.
- In 1917, the hospital moved to new facilities in the city. Throughout most of the 20th century, the building was used for a wide variety of purposes.
- In 1998, a project to restore the building for its use was the Puebla Museum of Viceregal Art.
- In 2002, this museum was converted into the San Pedro Museum of Art, which exhibits works from various epochs.
Museum Workshop of Erasto Cortés Juárez
The Museum Workshop of Erasto Cortés Juárez was the home of one of the major figures in fine and graphic arts in Puebla in the 20th century. The museum was founded in 2000 and contains more than 400 pieces of both his work and personal effects.
The museum also hosts temporary exhibits, workshops, and seminars
National Museum of the Mexican Railways
The National Museum of the Mexican Railways (MNFM) is located in the Historic Center of Puebla City. This is an exhibition space dedicated to studying, preserving, and disseminating the railway legacy based on historical reviews of the railway, from its beginnings in 1988 to the present.
The museum has a significant number of historical railway objects, pieces that were not only part of the rolling stock, which is imposing and majestic, but also objects from everyday life used in offices, workshops, and patios of the now-defunct railway company.
The museum has several halls, in which various exhibitions are temporarily presented, all related to the railway culture.
Museum of Puebla City
Museo Industrial de Metepec
Av. de la Compañia s/n
Col. Metepec
CP 74360, Atlixco, Puebla
Museo de Arte religioso Cuautinchan
Privada Gonzalo Bautista s/n
Centro Histórico
CP 75220, Cuautinchán, Puebla
Museo Regional de Cuetzalan Emma Flores de Morante
Av. Miguel Alvarado 18
Centro
CP 73560, Cuetzalan del Progreso, Puebla
Museo La Magnolia
Calle 2 Sur 302
Centro
CP 75520 , Chalchicomula de Sesma, Puebla
Museo Gilberto Bosques Saldívar
Av. 5 de Mayo 1
Centro
CP 74730, Chiautla, Puebla
Museo Comunitario de Atencingo
Calz. Benito Juárez s/n
Centro
CP 74583, Chietla, Puebla
Museo de Arte Religioso, Ex Convento de San Martín Huaquechula
Plaza Principal s/n
Centro
CP 74370, Huaquechula, Puebla
Museo Comunitario de Zapata del Plan de Ayala
Emiliano Zapata s/n
Centro
CP 74720, Huehuetlán el Chico, Puebla
Museo de la Evangelización Ex Convento de San Miguel Arcángel
Plazuela de San Francisco s/n
Centro
CP 74160, Huejotzingo, Puebla
Museo Comunitario Ixtacamaxtitlán
Av. Reforma s/n
Centro
CP 73720, Ixtacamaxtitlán, Puebla
Museo Casa de Cultura de Izúcar
Ayuntamiento Norte 10
Centro
CP 74400, Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla
Museo Regional de Telecomunicaciones Juan de la Granja
Ayuntamiento 206
Centro
CP 75120, Nopalucan, Puebla
Museo Comunitario Xipixtla
Domicilio conocido s/n
Centro
CP 74889, Piaxtla, Puebla
Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos
Calle 13 Sur núm. 103
Centro
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo La Casa del Mendrugo
4 Sur 304
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Galería Tesoros de la Catedral de Puebla
5 Oriente 5 altos de la casa de cultura
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo de Arte Popular Ex-Convento de Santa Rosa
Calle 3 Nte. núm. 1210
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Casa del Títere Marionetas Mexicanas
Blvd. Esteban de Antuñano 111
Luz Obrera
CP 72110, Puebla, Puebla
San Pedro Museo de Arte
4 Nte. 203
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo José Luis Bello y González
3 Pte. 302
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Interactivo 5 de Mayo
Ejército de Oriente s/n y Unidad Cívica 5 de Mayo
Col. Moctezuma
CP 72260, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Universitario Casa de los Muñecos
2 Nte. 2
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo de la Evolución Puebla
Calz. Ejército de Oriente s/n esq Cazadores de Morelia, Plaza Cívica 5 de Mayo
Zona Los Fuertes
CP 72260, Puebla, Puebla
Museo UPAEP
11 Poniente 1914
Barrio de Santiago
CP 72160, Puebla, Puebla
Planetario de Puebla Germán Martínez Hidalgo
Calz. Ejército de Oriente s/n esq. Cazadores de Morelia
Zona de los Fuertes, Unidad Cívica 5 de Mayo
CP 72260, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos
Calle 11 Nte. 1005
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo José Luis Bello y Zetina
5 de Mayo 409
Centro
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Biblioteca Palafoxiana
5 Oriente 5
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo del Automóvil Puebla
Av. 3 Sur 1501
Col. El Carmen
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Viviente Puebla
7 Ote 211
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Amparo
Av. 2 Sur 708
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo del Tecnológico de Monterrey
4 Norte núm. 5
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo San José María de Yermo y Parres
12 Norte 2003
Barrio El Alto
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Casa del Deán
16 de Septiembre 507
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Interactivo de Talavera Celia
Calle Fresno 97- A
Arboledas de Guadalupe
Puebla, Puebla
Museo de la Música Mexicana Rafael Tovar y de Teresa
Av. Obreros Independientes s/n, esq. 15 Sur Ex-Fábrica La Constancia Mexicana
Luz Obrera
CP 72110, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Infantil La Constancia Mexicana
Av. Obreros Independientes s/n, esq. 15 Sur
Luz Obrera
CP 72110, Puebla, Puebla
Casa de la Música de Viena en Puebla
Av. Obreros Independientes s/n, esq. 15 Sur Ex-Fábrica La Constancia Mexicana
Col. Luz Obrera
CP 72110, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Regional de la Revolución Mexicana, Casa de los Hermanos Serdán
Av. 6 Ote. 206 esq. 2 Nte.
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Internacional del Barroco
Vía Atlixcáyotl 2501
Col. Reserva Territorial Atlixcáyotl
CP 72830, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Taller Erasto Cortés (MUTEC)
7 Oriente 4
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo de Arte Religioso Ex Convento de Santa Mónica
Av. 18 Pte 103
Centro Histórico
CP 72000, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Fuerte de Guadalupe
Av. Ejércitos de Oriente s/n, Centro Cívico Cultural 5 de Mayo
Col. Los Fuertes
CP 72270, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Regional de Puebla
Centro Cívico 5 de mayo, Av. Ejércitos de Oriente s/n
Col. Los Fuertes
CP 72270, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Histórico de la No Intervención Fuerte de Loreto
Centro Cívico 5 de Mayo, Av. Ejércitos de Oriente s/n
Col. Los Fuertes
CP 72720, Puebla, Puebla
Museo Comunitario Santa Catarina Villanueva
Domicilio conocido s/n
Centro
Quecholac, Puebla
Museo Regional de Cholula
Calle 14 Pte. 307
San Juan Aquiahuac
CP 72810, San Andrés Cholula, Puebla
Museo del Agua, Agua para Siempre
Km. 63 de la autopista Tehuacán Oaxaca, y Carr. San Gabriel Chilac – San Juan Atzingo km. 1
San Gabriel Chilac, Barranca Oxtoyo
CP 75880, San Gabriel Chilac, Puebla
Museo Hacienda de San Cristóbal Polaxtla
Prol. Ignacio Zaragoza s/n
El Moral
CP 740000, San Martín Texmelucan, Puebla
Museo Comunitario de Tlalancaleca
San Matías
Centro
CP 74110, San Matías Tlalancaleca, Puebla
Museo de Sitio de Cholula
Av. 8 Norte núm. 2 esq. Av. Morelos
Centro Ceremonial
CP 72760, San Pedro Cholula, Puebla
Museo Casa del Caballero Águila
Av. 4 Ote. 1-a
Centro
CP 72760, San Pedro Cholula, Puebla
Museo Comunitario Hueyotli
Plaza Central
Centro
CP 75280, Santo Tomás Hueyotlipan, Puebla
Museo de la Evolución Tehuacán
Carr. Federal Puebla-Tehuacan 1211 o Km. 114 San Lorenzo Teotipilco
Col. Manantiales
CP 75855, Tehuacán, Puebla
Museo de Sitio y Zona Arqueológica de Tehuacán El Viejo La Mesa
Camino a San Isidro s/n
San Diego Chalma
CP 75859, Tehuacán, Puebla
Museo del Valle de Tehuacán
Av. Reforma Nte. 200
Centro
CP 75700, Tehuacán, Puebla
Museo Comunitario Histórico Cultural Paleontológico (HICUPA)
Juárez Nte. s/n
Centro
CP 75856, Tehuacán, Puebla
Museo Hidromineral de Peñafiel
Av. José García Crespo 2805
Col. San Nicolás Tetitzintla
CP 75710, Tehuacán, Puebla
Museo Regional de Tepexi
Portal Hidalgo 1
Centro
CP 74690, Tepexi de Rodríguez, Puebla
Museo Regional Mixteco Tlayúa
Carr. Estatal 709 La Colorada-Coyotepec s/n
Col. Morelos
CP 74692, Tepexi de Rodríguez, Puebla
Museo Comunitario de San Felipe Otlaltepec
Domicilio conocido
Centro
CP 74699, Tepexi de Rodríguez, Puebla
Museo Regional Caltonac
Hidalgo 12
Centro
CP 73990, Tepeyahualco, Puebla
Museo de Sitio de Cantona
Carr. Tepeyahualco-Xonacatlán Km. 7.5, Unidad de servicios de la zona Arqueológica de Cantona
Centro
CP 73990, Tepeyahualco, Puebla
Museo de Sitio de Teteles de Santo Nombre
Carr.Tlacotepec Zona Arqueológica km. 13
CP 75680, Tetela de Ocampo, Puebla
Museo de los Tres Juanes
Calle 20 de Noviembre
Centro
CP 73640, Tetela de Ocampo, Puebla
Museo de Sitio de la Zona Arqueológica de Tepapayeca
Carret. Fed.160 dirección Oaxaca, en el km 129
Santa María de la Candelaria
CP 74540, Tlapanalá, Puebla
Museo Comunitario Tochtepeuas
Planta Baja de la Presidencia Municipal
Centro Histórico
CP 75610, Tochtepec, Puebla
Museo Casa Carranza
Plaza de la Constitución s/n
Centro
CP 73080, Xicotepec, Puebla
Centro Cultural Museo Comunitario de Xiutetelco
Aquiles Serdán s/n
Centro
CP 73970, Xiutetelco, Puebla
Museo Comunitario Juan Francisco Lucas
Palacio Municipal s/n
Centro
CP 73665, Xochiapulco, Puebla
Museo Comunitario Xolalpancalli (casa del pueblo)
Plaza de la Constitución s/n
Centro Histórico
CP 73680, Zacapoaxtla, Puebla
Museo de Relojería Alberto Olvera Hernández
Nigromante 3
Centro
CP 73310, Zacatlán, Puebla
Museo Regional Comunitario Luciano Márquez Becerra
Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez 4
Centro
CP 73310, Zacatlán, Puebla
Museo del Reloj
Carr. Jicolapa km. 3.5
Col. Jicolapa
CP 73310, Zacatlán, Puebla
Museo Comunitario Paleontológico de San Juan Raya
A 16 km de la cabecera municipal y a 12 km de la Carr. Fed. Tehuacán-Huajuapan
Col. San Juan Raya
CP 73440, Zapotitlán, Puebla
