Papalotla

Papalotla is a very small town in southern Tlaxcala very nearly on the Puebla border. It is a part of the Puebla-Tlaxcala metropolitan area along with most of the neighboring communities on the lower slopes of the La Malinche volcano. Lower Papalotla is more commonly known as Panzacola which grew in the 20th century into an important industrial center, with more than a dozen domestic and international firms doing business here. 

Little-known to many of them, the area has been settled since about the year 100 CE and one that had grown into a significant settlement by about 650 CE. The Panzacola Iron and Bronze Foundry established a presence here already in the early 19th century and that foundry would solidify the area's reputation for more than the next 150 years. On the banks of Atoyac River many textile firms would set up shop and the character is still evident in the winding crooked streets that climb up La Malinche. The early railway station, still a cultural landmark, would welcome economic growth and continued importance for the region. By the 1970s, even the automotive industry was setting up shop within the Panzacola-Zacatelco industrial corridor. That industry is still important to the broader region

But today, visitors come for the regions important fairs and cultural events. The Papalotla Carnival is said to be second only to that held in the capital city on the days just prior to Ash Wednesday. The General Máximo Rojas Papalotla Municipal Museum maintains important documentation of these events and the Atltepeihuitl Cultural Festival held in January or February of each year.  

Papalotla is especially well regarded for the intensity of the artisan works that originate here. Blacksmith and metal works, leather goods, and wood carving are all complemented by the unique candies and sweets. During festivals, and practically any time of year, the area surrounding the Church of San Francisco de Asis is alive with vendors peddling many of these items. The Instituto Tlaxcalteca de la Cultura Papalotla is an incredibly valuable center for the culture of the entire region.

Far away most visitors will arrive to Papalotla from Puebla. From the very center, a taxi can make the journey in just about 45 minutes. It's just about the same distance to the capital of Tlaxcala at the very north of the valley on this side of the volcano. From Mexico City, it is a little faster to route a bus journey through the capital of Tlaxcala rather than Puebla, but you'll want to make sure there is a connecting bus waiting for you for the remainder of the trip to Papalotla.