This large building includes the Palafoxiana Library, one of the oldest libraries in the Western…read moreHemisphere. It sits behind the large church on the Zocalo. In this building, Puebla sets forth their cultural activities. It's a large two story building, with a series of courtyards in the middle that are meticulously landscaped and groomed. There are free, clean restrooms here as well. On the eastern side of the cultural center, there's a cinema museum, displaying various antique movie projectors. They occasionally show movies for free! When I was there, all the movies were antique Mexican movies that I'd never heard of. The place was really clean, and incredibly beautiful. It seems that this is the place to see a concert or a play. The area had good signage letting you know where everything was, and there's employees who just hang out answering tourists' questions. It's a nice place to get out of the sun, use the restroom, and of course, see the library!

I hadn't visited this museum since its renovation in 2013 so it was like seeing it all for the…read morefirst time. From the sleek multi-story lobby to the galleries to the the glass-enclosed cafe as the centerpiece of a fabulous roof garden, the changes to the Amparo are incredible. The permanent collection looks better than ever in well-designed displays that make viewing each piece an engaging experience. Many museums treat the presentation of their collections almost as an afterthought but the Amparo made this a priority of their renovation and it allows the visitor to better understand the cultural richness of this region and the country. Even though the permanent collection's quality is renowned, it was the temporary exhibitions that really impressed me during this visit. Johanna Calle's 'Silentes' took over a gallery on the upper level and, a month after it closed, it still resonates with me. Her work comments on the social challenges in her native Colombia. Here, she depicts images of the fragility of children in her society using wire, cloth, paper, and felt. She includes stacks of photos of children for adoption. One wall-mounted piece was remnants from a little girl's dress: just sleeves and a collar. The fabric disappeared into the canvas. Ms. Calle seems to agonize over the subject matter that is obviously close to her heart and I couldn't help but conclude that she wants the viewer to feel the effort she puts into each work. It was a powerful exhibition: don't forget the children; don't let them become invisible victims. If you simply want to relax, take the glass elevator to the top floor for a drink in the cafe. Is there a better rooftop experience in Puebla? Finally, I never comment on museum gift shops but this one has some high-quality crafts for sale. If you're looking for a gift that is more than the typical souvenir, you may find it here.

It's an ok museum. Their collections are somewhat varied and if you enjoy post-Hispania…read morecollections, this is a place for you. We would have enjoyed it more had we not felt that staff were circling around us in an unfriendly and distrustful manner. They kept telling us not to get too close to the exhibits or take flash photos each time we entered a different part of the museum. Only a couple of staff were friendly. We've gone to several museums throughout Mexico and this one made us want to leave early. The top floor gives somewhat expansive views of the top of buildings.