The colonial city of Puebla in Mexico, on the route to Oaxaca, is a wonderful place to visit and take a rest for a few days. You can enjoy its historic monuments, such as the Fuente de los Frailes (the Fountain of the Monks), the Fuente de San Miguel (St Michael’s Fountain), the Gallito clock, Nicolás Bravo’s statue of the Niño (the Christ Child), the statues of Motolinía and of don Francisco Madero, the Cathedral, the Plaza de Armas (Main Plaza), the Church of La Compañía (the Church of the Society of Jesus – the Jesuits), the Church of Santo Domingo with its beautiful Rosary Chapel, the Church of San Francisco, the historical forts of Loreto and Guadalupe and the church and ex Franciscan abbey of Huejotzingo. You can follow the three tourist trails: Angelópolis, Sierra Mixteca and Sierra Mágica. Puebla is famous for the wide variety of its colored handicrafts, such as its Talavera style and onyx pottery. In the Barrio del Artista (Artist’s Neighborhood) you find artisans making earrings, necklaces, key rings and bracelets. The Santa Rosa and the Regional de Artesanías (Regional Handicrafts) Museums are places you should not miss if you want to get a good selection of invaluable artistic objects. You should also look for souvenirs for your friends in the handicraft centers of Acatlán, Amozoc, Tecali, Calpan and San Pablito Pahuatlán.

In the midst of this abundance of historical and picturesque attractions, right in the center of this beautiful city, you will find the Hotel La Purificadora. This hotel has arisen from the ruins of a nineteenth century factory which produced purified water and ice, and which lay abandoned for many years.

In an attempt to respect the spirit of the original building, the remodeling work was aimed at maintaining the purity of construction, which resulted in a modern, minimalist building that was at the same time bold and colorful.

Today, La Purificadora is famous for its brilliant colors, use of natural light and thick walls, and is a tangible manifestation of the work of Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta. Using only black and white, he employed materials such as stones from the original building, antique wood and onyx. He also used floor tiles, which were custom made for this project and intended to be used in the public areas: the terrace which boasts a spectacular aquarium style 30 meter pool, the first floor courtyard, the library and the cellars. Some artifacts recovered by a local archeologist (glass and bottle fragments) were incorporated into the construction as design elements.

Travelers and local people alike come here to enjoy old world charm blended with comfort and a high level of stimulation, a combination of tradition and good taste. You would not expect anything less from the famous hotelier Carlos Couturier and the Habita Hotel group. Most of the twenty six rooms, including three suites, enjoy spectacular views over the city, which is a Unesco World Heritage site. La Purificadora also offers conference facilities, the cuisine of chef Enrique Olivera, a spa and a lecture room. The interior design is by Legoretta + Legoretta, Serrano Monjarez.

More information
La Purificadora, member of Design Hotels.
Callejón de la 10 Norte 802, Paseo de San Francisco, Barrio el Alto, 72000 Puebla, México.
Reservations (Europe): 00 800 3746 8357
Rates range from US$145 to US$325 per night.
res@designhotels.com
www.designhotels.com/purificadora