Cholula’s zócalo (in San Pedro Cholula, not to be confused with Zócalo de San Andrés to the east) is so huge and exposed that most people prefer to congregate under the arches in the cafes and restaurants, or in the greener east side near to the 19th-century Capilla de la Tercera Orden. Facing this leafier patch is the Ex-Convento de San Gabriel and the Arabic-style Capilla Real. In the center is the Templo de San Gabriel, founded in 1530 on the site of a pyramid.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Cholula attractions

1. Casa del Caballero Águila

0.06 MILES

This excellent museum is housed in a fantastically restored colonial building on the zócalo. The small collection includes ceramics and jewelry from the…

2. Templo de San Gabriel

0.07 MILES

The Templo de San Gabriel was founded in 1529 on the site of a pyramid and the ruins of a temple dedicated to Quetzalcóatl. The exterior is partially…

3. Parroquia de San Pedro

0.09 MILES

This distinctively yellow baroque church has the tallest tower in Cholula and has become an often photographed icon of the city, at least at ground level…

4. Ex-Convento de San Gabriel

0.13 MILES

The Ex-Convento de San Gabriel (also known as Plaza de la Concordia), facing the east side of Cholula's huge zócalo, includes a tiny but interesting…

5. Capilla de la Tercera Orden

0.17 MILES

In the middle of Cholula's huge zócalo is the 19th-century Capilla de la Tercera Orden. The church forms part of the Ex-Convento de San Gabriel.

6. Capilla Real de Naturales

0.17 MILES

The Arabic-style Capilla Real has 49 domes and dates from 1540. The mosque-inspired design makes the yellow church unique to Mexico and creates a…

7. Pirámide Tepanapa

0.4 MILES

The incredible Pirámide Tepanapa looks more like a hill than a pyramid, but it's still the town's big draw, and with miles of tunnels veining the inside…

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