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History of the hotel...
The Hotel Colonial de Puebla is located one block away from
the Zocalo
(main square) in the heart of the downtown historical district of
Puebla,
Mexico, a city part of UNESCO's World Heritage program because of its
beautiful
historic architecture.The hotel building has been on the city map since
1668.
History tells us this building was constructed by the
Jesuits, after
they built the Espíritu Santo church (La Compañía)
and its college (Universidad Autonoma de Puebla), located right across
the
street.
From its construction to present, the building has had
three different
uses:
1.- Jesuit monastery until the end of the 18th Century.
2.- At the end of the 18th Century, the building was
acquired by Mr.
Covarrubias, a very important man in Puebla, to host important
travelers
on their way from Veracruz to Mexico City.
3.-Hotel and Restaurant from the middle of the 19th Century
up to
our days.
The building started life as a hotel under the name`"Hotel
del Jardín".
In 1930 the building was bought by the Del Campo family, who restored
it
and changed the name to Hotel Colonial.
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Agustín del Puerto Barba
(1886-1964)
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During the next 25 years six
different businessmen administered
the hotel (see note), until 1956 when Mr.
Agustín
del Puerto Barba (native of León, Spain) bought it and left the
administration
to his son Mr. Agustín del Puerto Bello. |
Agustín del Puerto Bello
(1927-1997)
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Both the Del Puerto and Bello families are well versed in
the hotel
business, operating hotels in the Mexican States of Veracruz, Puebla
and
Oaxaca since the early 20th Century.
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Salvador Ortiz de Montellano Murúa
(1923-2001)
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In 1959, the administration of
Hotel Colonial de Puebla switched
hands to Mr. Salvador Ortiz de Montellano Murúa and his wife,
Mrs.
Maria Luisa del Puerto Bello, who with dedication to service and
personal
attention to details, transformed Hotel Colonial into a unique and
charming
place to stay in Puebla. |
María Luisa del Puerto Bello
(1926-1995)
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At the present time, the hotel is owned by the company
Hotel Colonial
de Puebla, S.A. de C.V., and its tradition of personal attention and
outstanding
service is continued by the manager, Mrs.
María
Luisa Ortiz de Montellano del Puerto.
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María Luisa Ortiz de Montellano
del Puerto and Salvador
Ortiz de Montellano Murúa.
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Salvador Ortiz de Montellano Murúa
and Javier Ortiz
de Montellano del Puerto.
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Hotel Colonial de Puebla is officially considered to be a
three star
hotel, but its reputation abroad is first class. During summer time,
the
hotel hosts several summer programs from American universities and
colleges.
In Autumn, Winter and Spring, groups of European tourists, primarily
from
France, arrive daily, and the hotel also hosts cultural programs for
elderly
American and Canadians.
The Hotel Colonial is known locally for its excellent
cuisine, and
recomended in almost every foreign tour guide. The "Mole Poblano"
served every day in its dining rooms is reputed to be the best in the
world.
The Hotel Colonial building is catalogued as an Historic
Monument,
because of its magnificent colonial architecture. The hotel elevator is
one of the oldest working elevators in the country. A unique collection
of portraits of Viceroyals of The New Spain Viceroyalty hangs on its
walls,
along with numerous works of art. Following its recent restoration, the
hotel is a downtown showpiece.
The location of Hotel Colonial de Puebla, in the heart of
the historic
colonial district, is unbeatable. One block away are the Zocalo (main
square),
La Catedral (Cathedral) and the Plazuela de los Sapos (Square of The
Toads).
A few more blocks away are El Parián (handicrafts market), La
Casa
del Alfeñique (The house of meringue), El Barrio del Artista
(The
Artists Colony), the famous Capilla del Rosario (Rosary Chapel), the
Amparo
Museum and many other museums and places of interest.
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