Two thousand years ago, it was believed that each star in the sky represented a guardian angel.  The most famous star guided the Wise Men to the stable where Baby Jesus was born.  That star, traditionally with eight points, has been known ever since as the Star of Bethlehem (“Estrella de Belem”).

The stars have always been important for the people of the Valley of Cholula, one of the oldest regions in Mexico.  Thousands of years ago, in this valley protected by Popocatépetl volcano, Iztaccíhuatl volcano,  Malinche volcano and the Peak of Orizaba, the Great Pyramid of Quetzatlcoatl was built (one of the pyramid’s  invocations was the morning star).   In the first half of the twentieth century, the National Observatory of Tonantzintla was built, and during the 1950’s, a Mexican astronomer discovered the stars that bear his name; But in Cholula, probably no star has been more important than the Star of Bethlehem (“Estrella de Belem”): its 81 churches make it the city with the greatest density of temples in all of Mexico.

In the spring of 2006, in a large, elegant adobe home built in the 19th century, a few steps from the Great Pyramid and the Royal Chapel, Estrella de Belem, a luxurious and charming six-room bed and breakfast and spa, opened. The old home was lovingly restored, respecting the original architecture while adapting it for today’s use.   For two years, Puebla artisans carved the stone and wood with traditional tools.  Two patios, adorned with limestone fountains, are the focal points of the building.

The Patio of the Talavera Fountain is nestled around a laurel tree, under the apex of a crystal pyramid.  Breakfast is served each morning under the tree branches and in the afternoon, guests can enjoy a glass of wine on the surrounding terraces.  An antique grand piano, once played by composers Agustin Lara and Pepe Guizar, is part of the décor.   Twenty-four unique 18th-century talavera tiles decorate the fountain.  The tiles were originally from a Jesuit monastery in the city of Puebla.

The Patio of the Lion Fountain is a beautiful garden with a pleasant central seating area, accessible by a wooden footbridge.  Most of the bedchambers and the library are accessed through this patio, which is surrounded with a Saint Thomas marble hallway, protected by a transparent overhang.   On the south wall, a sculptured stairway accesses the building’s roof garden, where there is a pool with whirlpool, a wet sun-tanning area, a wooden terrace with a huge flower box, and a small telescope.  From the roof, there is an exceptional view of all the important buildings in Cholula, the Great Pyramid, the volcanoes, and at night, the starry Cholula sky.

The bedchambers of “Estrella de Belem,  Bed & Breakfast & Spa" conserve their original high ceilings with wide beams but under the clay floors, hundreds of meters of hot water pipes meander, which help maintain a even temperature ten months a year.  Although the thick adobe walls are natural thermal insulation, each room has air conditioning for hot summer days.  The double-paned windows help with both acoustic and thermal insulation, and wooden shutters permit the rooms to be completely darkened.  The bathrooms are modern, all with tubs and sinks and marble floors.

The main entrance to the building merits special mention because of its excellent workmanship.  According to an inscription on the inside of the door (see legend), it was made in 1907 by Cholula carpenter Jose Guadalupe Diaz.  It was heavily damaged (see detail of damages); however, it was restored by local carpenters.  The door head currently has a crystal with the inscription "Vidimus enim stellam eius in oriente et venimus adorare eum. Matthaeum 2,2".  ("For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him."  Matthew 2: 2)  The door is framed in carved stone with floral motifs and crowned by a pediment with three large family shields of the legendary Three Kings.  In Cholula culture, the arch of flowers symbolizes the entrance to paradise.  Behind the door on the floor, there is a grey and white mosaic wind rose, marking the direction to Jerusalem with the Maltese Cross, similar to renaissance maps. 

“Estrella de Belem, Bed & Breakfast & Spa" is a small architectural jewel in Cholula, located a few steps from great jewels like the Great Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl, the Royal Chapel and San Gabriel Franciscan Convent. 
 
“Estrella de Belem, Bed & Breakfast & Spa" is not a conventional hotel, but rather a place of lodging for those who travel leisurely and know how to enjoy the simple and pleasant details of life: a grand piano, a glass of wine, the silhouette of a volcano, a fluffy bed, a tub bath, a gourmet breakfast…

At “Estrella de Belem, Bed & Breakfast & Spa", guests receive the personal attention of the owner, Belem Ríos.