The 5 de Mayo Historic Passageway holds more than 300 years of history, as well as myths. There are rumors that it was a hiding place for 17th-century robbers, and that it also served as a crossing for the Mexican army during the Battle of 5 de Mayo.
These tunnels were discovered during construction of the overpass on 5 de Mayo Boulevard, near San José, in 2011. They were opened to the public in February 2016, and have now become one of the most visited sites for tourists and residents of Puebla.
“These tunnels were discovered in 2011, during construction of the San José Bridge on 5 de Mayo Boulevard. Workers at the time found part of the aqueduct, and that’s when the authorities decided to undertake this project,” Domingo Castillo, an employee of the Historic Center Management, emphasized in an interview with Multimedios Puebla.
And when visiting it, people are transported back to one of the most important moments in the history of Puebla, the Battle of May 5th. Bullets, horseshoes, knives, razors, and ceramic and clay tableware were found here. Legends tell that members of the army commanded by General Ignacio Zaragoza traveled through this space to fight the aforementioned battle. The battlegrounds measure 477 meters and connect to the Los Fuertes area.
This type of infrastructure could date back to the second half of the 17th century and were originally built to direct rainwater to prevent flooding in the Xanenetla neighborhood. According to Domingo Castillo, the area is located in this location, and at that time, the entire neighborhood flooded.
The passage begins at the intersection of San José and 5 de Mayo Boulevard. Visitors can enter and observe the darkness and humidity, giving an idea of what it was like in ancient times. It preserves the original stone materials used to build it, from the Xanenetla neighborhood.
The municipal official emphasized that visitors will experience a very important part of Puebla’s history upon arriving, as they walk 477 meters, culminating at the foot of the Fort and Loreto.
To open this tourist attraction to the public, artisanal work was carried out: dredging and reinforcing the tunnel, and then making various improvements, including adequate lighting and ventilation, so that visitors do not feel short of breath when walking inside the tunnels.
In an interview, Maximiliano Garza Flores, manager of the 5 de Mayo Historic Passage, explained that this site has its own on-site museum at the end of the first phase, where they found objects such as bullets, knives, and horseshoes, which can be classified as remnants of what was used in the Battle of 5 de Mayo.
He emphasized that during the tour, viewers will learn about the different construction stages or remnants found during the recovery of the site. “Visitors will find old bullets, buckles, horseshoes, toys, bottles, and some pieces that are more than 15 to 30 years old. The tunnels were abandoned for 300 years, given different uses, such as how thieves hid what they stole,” he added.
He explained that during the construction work, the masons fractured a portion of the most attractive and visited site currently in the city of Puebla, which receives more than 120,000 visitors annually. This was due to the discovery of a Genesis Filtering Gallery, which attracts visitors and tells the story of the San José Dam, which culminates in the San Francisco River.
This site is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a price of 33 pesos. It is free on Tuesdays, and free for seniors and students every day.
Source: milenio
