Explore the Town Square

In the town of Papantla, Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Church is the most significant building. This typical Franciscan church sits on the square where the Papantla Flyers perform. Honoring Our Lady of the Assumption, it was built in 1700 on a low hill. The church’s most notable feature is the wood trim decorated with motifs of vanilla vines and the symbol of Nahui-Olín, the fifth sun according to Nahuatl beliefs.

On one side of the church, along the courtyard’s retaining walls, the artist Teodoro Cano created the Sculptural Mural of the Totonaca Culture (Mural Escultórico de la Cultura Totonaca). The stone relief depicts the history of the ancient Totonaca people and their evolution, framed by an enormous feathered serpent.

Behind the church is Campanario Hill, the site of the Papantla Flyers Monument. This spot offers the best views of the city.

The best time to enjoy the Magical Town is in the morning. Strolling through the steep streets lets you see the houses with their doors thrown open, the red tile roofs, and stone architecture. The sun is just starting to warm things up, and the smoke from kitchens around town will get you hungry.