The wooden kiosk in the centre of Chignahuapan seen from the square: tiled roof, colourful arches and a yellow railing under a blue sky.
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Historic centre · Magic Town

The centre of Chignahuapan

A wooden kiosk, a parish church with a carved façade and arcades to stroll unhurried, by day and by night.

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The kiosk

1871 woodwork at the heart of town

It is Mudéjar in style and made of wood, with fine latticework painted in bright colours. Underneath it hides a fountain, and around it the townspeople sit to watch the afternoon go by.

  • Mudéjar style
  • All wood
  • A fountain beneath
The Chignahuapan kiosk seen from above, in the middle of the square with its flower beds and palm trees.
The kiosk, in the middle of the square.

Parish Church of Saint James the Apostle

An indigenous baroque façade

The church was founded in the 16th century. Its mortar façade was carved and reworked between 1752 and 1822: local hands interpreted the art arriving from Europe in their own way.

The white façade of the Parish Church of Santiago Apóstol (Saint James the Apostle), with its tower and coloured reliefs, facing the Chignahuapan square.
The façade, facing the square.
Relief of Saint James the Apostle on horseback, high on the parish church façade, inside a yellow arch.
Saint James on horseback, up high.

Look out for

  1. Saint James on horseback, crowning the façade.
  2. The coloured reliefs around the doorway.
  3. Inside, the brown-skinned cherubs on the columns.

The square and the arcades

The whole centre, on foot

Around the kiosk are the arcades, the parish church and the Town Hall. A few blocks away is the basilica, and the lagoon is about 1 km off: you can walk there.

The arcades in the centre of Chignahuapan from the air: red tile roofs over the arches and the street beside the square.
The arcades, under their tiled roofs.
Kiosk Arcades Parish church Town Hall Basilica Lagoon · ~1 km
The centre on foot. Diagram, not to scale.

By day and by night

As evening falls, it lights up

By day it is the square for strolling; by night, the kiosk and the parish church are lit up. During the festive seasons, the streets of the centre are covered in lights.

The main square of Chignahuapan by day, from the air, with the arcades to one side and the mountains behind.
By day
The centre of Chignahuapan at night, from the air: the lit parish church and the lights of the town all the way to the horizon.
By night
A walkway in the centre covered with arches of lights and large glowing ornaments hanging overhead, at night.
Arches of lights in season.
A street in the centre at night, with tricolour lanterns and a tourist vehicle covered in coloured lights.
The streets of the centre, all lit up.

Tip Arrive as the afternoon fades: you see the square in daylight and, without moving, watch it light up.

Every July

The feast of Saint James

Saint James the Apostle is the town’s patron saint. In July, his feast fills the streets with colourful carpets, dances and the Santiago Fair.

See the dates in the calendar
A yellow, red and green street carpet during the feast of Saint James the Apostle, with people walking alongside.
Carpets on the street.
Dancers in decorated hats with red and yellow sashes parade down the street during the feast of Saint James the Apostle.
Dancers at the feast.

Around the square

What to do and what to taste

  • Sweets and fruit liqueurs

    At the stalls under the arcades, to taste and to take home.

  • Bread and esquites

    Local bread and a cup of esquites (seasoned corn) to stroll the square with.

  • Snacks and Puebla cooking

    A few steps from the kiosk, for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

  • A bauble to take home

    In the centre there are bauble workshops and shops that sell directly.

  • The basilica, a few blocks away

    With its monumental Virgin carved in wood.

  • Rides from the town centre

    They leave from the square: a good way to get your bearings on a first visit.

Get directions

All roads lead to the kiosk

Location
Central park, downtown Chignahuapan, Puebla
Admission
Free
The square
Open at all hours
The parish church
Open every day

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How to get to Chignahuapan from Mexico City and Puebla

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

What is there in the centre of Chignahuapan?

The square with its wooden kiosk, the arcades, the Parish Church of Saint James the Apostle and the Town Hall. A few blocks away is the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

How old is the Chignahuapan kiosk?

It dates from 1871. It is made of wood, in the Mudéjar style, and has a fountain underneath.

What style is the Parish Church of Saint James the Apostle?

Indigenous baroque. The church was founded in the 16th century and its mortar façade was carved and reworked between 1752 and 1822.

How long does it take to see the centre?

In one or two hours you can walk round the square, the kiosk, the parish church and the basilica at an easy pace. If you stay for dinner, you will see the centre lit up.

Can you walk from the centre to the lagoon?

Yes. The lagoon is about 1 km from the kiosk, and you can get there on foot.

Chignahuapan from the air, with its grid of streets, the green valley and the mountains under the clouds.

Before and after your visit

Keep planning your trip

See Chignahuapan’s nine treasures