Mexico's fourth largest metropolitan area and capital of Puebla State, Puebla de los Ángeles (the City of Angels), or Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza, is one of the world's best preserved colonial cities and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage City. Located in the lush, fertile Valley of Cuetlaxcoapan and surrounded by the dramatic snow-capped Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, more commonly known as the Sierra Nevada, Puebla is one of Mexico's most important cultural, industrial and educational centers. 

With more than 20 universities and numerous language and culture schools, Puebla is a prime destination for study abroad students seeking a fulfilling and authentic Mexican experience. The Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP) offers a total immersion program in Spanish language and Mexican culture, including cultural activities, social events, field trips and homestays. They also offer service learning programs as well as study abroad semester programs and are ranked 2nd among private universities in Mexico for having th elarger number of accredited programs, corresponding to more than 85% of the enrolled undergraduate students.. Other notable language schools include the Spanish Language Institute of Puebla and the Livit Immersion Center. Both cater to professionals, and offer intensive courses in technical, business, scientific, medical and legal Spanish.

Founded in 1578, the state university Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla (BUAP) is Puebla's oldest university, and offers courses in all fields of study through to the doctoral level. Recognized for its cultural diversity, Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLA) offers international students a comprehensive Spanish as a second language program in conjunction with academic studies, and also boasts an American football team, the "Aztecas." Other important institutions in Puebla include Universidad del Valle de México (UVM), Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA), Puebla Campus, Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM) Puebla Campus and Universidad Anáhuac Puebla Campus.

Established by the Spanish on April 16, 1531, Puebla was the first city in central Mexico founded by Europeans that was not built on the ruins of an indigenous settlement. Strategically located halfway between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz, Puebla quickly became of one of the most important cities of the colonial period. When French forces invaded independent Mexico in 1862, Puebla's name was officially changed to Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza after an unlikely Mexican defeat of French forces, under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, immigrants from Spain, Germany and Italy flocked to Puebla. These influences are visible in the architecture of German neighborhood of Colonia Humboldt, Puebla's Oktoberfest celebrations, and the Venetian dialect still spoken in the area, to name a few.

With its stunning array of colonial architecture, Puebla provides students of art history, architecture and architectural history with abundant opportunities to pursue their studies. Some of the most impressive buildings include the Templo de Santo Domingo with its gold-leaf Rosary Chapel, Puebla Cathedral, and La Concordia Church with its tiled courtyard. Beginning at the Zócalo, the bustling heart of the city, and ending at the 16th century hand-carved stone chapel of Iglesia de San José, the historic district walking tour is a must for all students who study in Puebla.

Students of the arts are inspired by the local artists of El Barrio del Artista (The Artists' Neighborhood). Resident artists create the renowned Talavera ceramic tiles, and unique handcrafts made from tin, textiles, onyx, wood and other materials. With an extensive collective of pre-Hispanic, colonial, modern and contemporary Mexican art, the Amparo Museum is one of Mexico's most distinguished.

Some of Mexico's major archaeological sites can be found in the surrounding region, and students of archaeology and archaeological history are drawn to Puebla. Among the most notable sites are the Tenapa Pyramid in Cholula, the murals of Cacaxtla, and the highest peaks in Mexico, the four volcanoes of Iztaccíhuatl, La Malinche, Citlaltépetl and Popocatépetl.

From this rich cultural history, a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city has emerged. Puebla was one of Mexico's earliest industrial centers, specializing mainly in the textile and automotive sectors. Today, Volkswagen is one of the city's major companies.

Puebla's cuisine is renowned throughout Mexico, and the city is the home of mole poblano, a complex sauce made from chile peppers, chocolate, and numerous other ingredients that is served over poultry. Other specialties include candies such as camotes made from sweet potatoes, tacos arabes which were inspired by Middle Eastern immigrants, and chicken dishes such as tinga and pipian.

With so much Mexican history and culture at students' fingertips and a wealth of educational opportunities, Puebla is an ideal location for students to study abroad. 

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