Xalapa comes from the Nahuatl (Aztec) language meaning "springs (of water) in the sand." Sometimes, you'll see it spelled Jalapa because "X" has several sounds and the Spaniards spelled Jalapa the way they thought it should be. Pickled "serrano" chiles are known as jalapeños because Don Mario Jimenez began commercializing them from here.

Xalapa is also known as the "Athens of Veracruz" because of it's strong cultural influences of three major universities, a multitude of preparatory and technical schools, insitutes, art galleries, folklore groups, outstanding anthropology and science museums, and the world renowned Xalapa Symphony Orchestra.

In the surrounding area, you'll find many interesting villages to visit such as: Coatepec and Xico (lots of coffee and where the movie "Romancing the Stone" was shot); Naolinco, famous for its "standing river" (waterfall!); Las Vigas in the pine covered mountains with delicious "jamón serrano" (smoked ham) and beautiful vistas; and Carrizal with it's thermal baths and white water rafting. There are dozens of other small towns with unique attractions that would take a thick book to tell about.