It's the capital of the federal state of Veracruz and is surrounded by a garden landscape
The city, which has a well-known university, has been built atop several hills at the foot of Mount Macuiltepec (Cerro de Macuiltepec). Of all the mountain peaks around Jalapa, the Cofre de Perote (Nauhcampatépetl) stands out. To the south lies the 5,700m/18,700ft-high Pico de Orizaba (Citlaltépetl), Mexico’s highest mountain. The geography of the region accounts for the city’s rich precipitation and the consequently lush vegetation. Occasionally, a damp fog shrouds the city.
In 1519, Cortés passed through Jalapa on his way to Mexico City. At that time, the Indian city Jalapa was flourishing under Aztec rule. After the Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire, Jalapa gained a reputation for its important annual fair, where Spanish goods brought by returning Spanish silver ships were sold. The distance between Jalapa and Veracruz is a mere 120km/75mi, and it is only 300km/186mi from Jalapa to Mexico City. This made the city an important station for stage coaches.
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