Puente de Bubas, Puebla

Puente de Bubas is a recovered 17th-century bridge now seen underground. Also known as the Puente de Amalucan, it once crossed the San Francisco, or Almoloyan, River. The river marked a clear social divide: the wealthier Spanish centre lay to the west, while poorer Indigenous neighbourhoods stood to the east. Nearby was the Hospital de las Bubas, which treated people with the disease then called “bubas” or the “French disease,” now identified as syphilis.

The bridge disappeared from view after the river was covered and later works reshaped the area above it. Rediscovered in 1999 and opened to visitors in 2015, it helped confirm long-standing stories about underground passages. The site is now seen as part of a buried network tied to water, movement, storage, memory, and, by tradition, wartime troop and supply routes.

Today, the visit combines archaeology, museum displays, and the feel of a hidden crossing. Inside are stone arches, low lighting, recovered pipes, pottery, tools, and other excavation finds. Notable pieces include the Escudo de la Reina, linked to the city’s early foundation, and a 1790 city coat of arms. A small Water Museum adds context on water, disease, social division, trade, and urban growth.