9 Best Things to Do in Chipilo
An Italian enclave in the heart of Mexico: Who would expect to hear Venetian, an Italian dialect, spoken in the heart of Mexico? In Chipilo you can hear it, and you’ll also find Italian delicacies produced in the region. The history of this village is interesting: It was founded in 1882 by a dozen families from Venetia in Italy who arrived here being promised fertile lands by the Mexican government. As this promise didn’t hold, the pilgrims switched to producing dairy and meat products.
Today, Chipilo de Francisco Javier Mina, which is the full name of this small town, also produces high-quality furniture. In the streets, you can find trattorias, pizzerías, and Italian delicatessen, and people from Puebla like to stop by to buy groceries and eat at an Italian restaurant. Join them and get a taste of Italy in the heart of Mexico!
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At a Glance: 9 Best Things to Do in Chipilo
- Eat Authentic Italian Pizza or Pasta at a Restaurant
- Buy Artisanal Cheese and Pasta
- Eat Italian Ice Cream
- Relax on a Bench in the Parco del Paese
- Visit the Church Parroquía de la Inmaculada Concepción
- Enjoy the View from Monte Grappa
- Wonder About the Local Language
- Admire the Santa María Tonantzintla Church
- Admire the Talavera Facade of the San Francisco Acatepec Temple
1. Eat Authentic Italian Pizza or Pasta at a Restaurant
You can’t visit a town with Italian roots without enjoying Italian food, can you? Have lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants. Enjoy homemade pasta or real Italian pizza. Enjoy your food along with a nice wine – delicious!
Pro Tip
When ordering red wine in Mexico, mention “al tiempo” (at room temperature) – or else you might get ice-cold red wine from the fridge.
2. Buy Artisanal Cheese and Pasta
Many Poblanos (people from the state or city of Puebla) come to Chipilo to buy artisanal meat and dairy products. Be it butter, cheese, sausages, or pasta – you can find it all here in Chipilo. But also baked goods like windbags (buñuelos) or panettone (a traditional Italian Christmas fruit bread). My favorite is the store directly opposite the church, called La Nave Italia – Quesos y Embutidos.
Various stores sell these kinds of products – search for “quesos” in Google Maps.
3. Eat Italian Ice Cream
Ice cream tastes differently in Mexico than what I’m used to in Europe. So treat yourself to a real Italian ice cream, for example, off the main street in Avenida Reforma 302, at Rominetta Chipilo.
4. Relax on a Bench in the Parco del Paese
This small park at the back south of the church invites you to take a break on one of its benches decorated with Venetian scenes. On its eastern side, in front of the Casa Italia, a monument explains the history of Chipilo and lists the names of its 127 founders. On its south side, there’s a small museum about Chipilo’s history.
5. Visit the Parish of Immaculate Conception Church
This church (Parroquía de la Inmaculada Concepción) at the heart of Chipilo on the main street was built in a neoclassic style. Its bell tower can be found at its back instead of its front. An image of Saint Anthony of Padua (San Antonio de Padua) is displayed, a saint worshipped in Véneto (Venetia), the region where most families that settled here originally came from. The church is mostly closed except when there’s a mass, so you’d probably just get a view from the outside.
Don’t forget to take a picture of the big letters for Chipilo in front of the church! They depict the town’s achievements (cattle, dairy products, and furniture).
6. Enjoy the View from Monte Grappa
From the Parco de Paese, walk south on Calle 2 Sur and turn left on Calle 3 Oriente to get to Monte Grappa. This hill is named after the mountain in Veneto, Italy. It gives you a nice view of Chipilo and – on a bright day – the volcano Popocatépetl. There are some statues and the big letters of Chipilo.
7. Wonder About the Local Language: Italian Venetian Dialect
In the shops and on the streets, you might hear a strange language being spoken: That’s Véneto, the Venetian dialect from the northeast of Italy. Most of the immigrants in the 19th century were from that region, and their dialect has survived until today. They mixed the Venetian dialect with Nahuatl and Spanish and thus created their own dialect, the Véneto Chipileño (Venetian dialect from Chipilo). It’s different from the Venetian spoken in Italy nowadays which has evolved to a modern version. The children speak it at home and also at school. Originally, the people from Chipilo kept to themselves. Nowadays, there are more and more mixed families, and the Véneto might disappear in the future.
You can listen to the Véneto Chipileño in this YouTube video (turn on English subtitles).
8. Admire the Interior of the Santa María Tonantzintla Church
This church is famous for its intricate interior, which blends indigenous and Baroque styles. You’ll find dark-skinned angels, corn, and tropical fruits woven into the design, reflecting the area’s pre-Hispanic roots.
Located about a 15-minute drive from the center of Cholula, Santa María Tonantzintla Church is famous for its folk or indigenous Baroque-style interior. This style incorporates pre-Hispanic elements, so you’ll find dark-skinned angels, tropical fruits, and ears of corn. Before the arrival of the Spanish, this area was sacred to Tonantzin, the mother goddess, who was later replaced by an image of the Virgin Mary in an effort to convert the indigenous population.
This church is located about a 10-minute drive from Chipilo. You can get there by taking a city tour bus from Cholula, or by taxi or Uber.
Note
Photos inside aren’t allowed, but you can purchase postcards at the entrance for a small fee.
9. Admire the Talavera Facade of the San Francisco Acatepec Church
Known for its elaborate Talavera-tiled facade, this church is a masterpiece of Mexican Baroque architecture. The vivid tiles make it one of the most beautiful church exteriors in Mexico.
While the building dates back to the 16th century, its renowned façade was completed much later, in 1760. The colorful Talavera tiles—famous in Puebla—that adorn the front of the church create an appearance so amplious that it’s like an altarpiece by itself. Look closely for details like the volutes atop the belfry and tower that resemble delicate pastries.
Even though the interior is beautifully decorated, it’s the façade that truly stands out.
This church is located about a 10-minute drive from Chipilo. You can get there by taking a city tour bus from Cholula, or by taxi or Uber.
…What Else Can You Do in Chipilo?
Visit Puebla/Atlixco/Cholula
Chipilo lies right between Atlixco and Puebla so it can be a convenient stop on your way to either of these cities. Cholula with its pyramid is also just a 20-minute drive away and is another worthwhile destination.
Where to Eat in Chipilo
There are several restaurants along the main street 5 de Mayo close to the church and further downhill.
Fontana Restaurante Chipilo
Typical Italian food like pasta and pizza, fresh pasta like gnocchi and ravioli, but also salmon and deer dishes – Fontana offers a good variety at reasonable prices. The restaurant lies directly next to the church.
Don Giovanni Trattoria y Quesería
Risotto, cannelloni, squid – this restaurant offers a broad variety of Italian dishes. It lies in the 5 de Mayo Street no. 204. They also sell cheese and dairy products.
La Terrazza della Nonna
From this restaurant’s terrace, you have a view of the church and the main street. They offer pasta, pizza, and Italian sandwiches. The restaurant lies on the Plaza Colón street next to the church. The menu is more streamlined, though.
Where to Stay in Chipilo
Chipilo is small; I suggest staying in Puebla, Cholula, or Atlixco and going to Chipilo only for a half-day trip. See some suggestions on Where to Stay in Puebla and Where to Stay in Cholula.
How to Get to Chipilo
Chipilo lies about 17 km (11 miles) from the city center of Puebla, and it takes about 40 minutes to arrive by car or taxi. You can also get there by public transport, but then you’ll need almost 2 hours. Directly in the center of Chipilo, there are 2 or 3 parking garages (estacionamientos). You can also park on the street, but usually, it’s hard to find a spot here, especially at the weekends.
So…Is It Worth It?
If you’re staying in Puebla or Cholula and would like to enjoy real Italian food, then Chipilo is definitely worth a visit. It’s perfect for a half-day trip to have lunch or dinner and buy some dairy products and pasta for home. It’s also a convenient stop on your way to or back from Puebla, Cholula, or Atlixco, to have something to eat. Afterward, walk your meal off with a stroll to some of the sights mentioned in this blog. You might even hear the locals speak some Italian here and there. I love Chipilo and I think it’s a great place to visit for a short trip!
Plan and Book Your Trip
– Where to find cheap flights: Skyscanner.com
– Get compensation for delayed or canceled flights: AirHelp
– Which Travel Insurance to use: safetywing.com
– Where to book accommodation: booking.com, hostelworld.com
– Where to book rental cars: Discover Cars
– Where to book tours: Get Your Guide, Tripadvisor, Viator
– Transportation: Busbud for sustainable travel by bus, inDrive for city-to-city transportation service
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