Museums

Amparo Museum

The building which houses the museum is made up of two important XVII centuries constructions. Nowadays the Amparo Museum is one of the most important of its kind in Latin America. It has a computerized digital information system which allows visitors to see images and listen to an explanation of them in several languages. It houses pieces of great value which range from the pre-Hispanic to contemporary times.

University Museum (Casa de los Muñecos)

It was built in 1792. Is one of the most peculiar of civil baroque style in New Spain. It is also an early example of the wonderful use of talavera ceramics to decorate the outside of buildings with lay themes. The house was restored in 1987 and has been the seat of the Museum of the Autonomous University of Puebla ever since. In its permanent expositions we can see the cultural wealth of the Univeristy Pinacoteca which is made up with more than 200 colonial paintings. The Francisco Xavier Clavijero and Francisco Xavier Alegre rooms are set aside for temporary exhibits.

National Railway Museum

The old station, built in 1869 was close to being demolished but it was rescued in 1973 after being declared a cultural heritage. It was not until 1988 when it was turned into a museum, which is important not only for its construction but also because of its locomotive engines telling the history and development of the railway system in Mexico.

Jose Luis Bello and Zetina Pinacotheca and Museum

Located in the building next to the Temple of Santo Domingo this is a donation by the philanthropist Jose Luis Bello and Zetina who once inhabited this house. The original decoration is almost intact and it hosts important paintings from outstanding world class Flemish, French, Italian, Dutch, German and Mexican schools.

Religious Art Museum

Most of the pieces from the temple are now in the Religious Art Museum which was inaugurated in 1992 located on one side of the Monastery of the San Juan Bautista Church. Here one can admire different images sculpted in polychromatic wood, such as the beautiful trio of Saint Ann, Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus. There is also a crucifix made of cornstalk pulp which weighs less than 15 kgs. The museum also hosts a XVI century altarpiece with temper paintings of San Diego de Alcalá which were probably painted by Simon Pereyns.

There is a section of the museum dedicated to the foundation and development of Cuauhtinchán providing visitors a broader view of the importance of the dominion during pre-Hispanic times and the magnitude of the quest for evangelization.