The city was founded early in the colonial period, originally under the jurisdiction of Huejotzingo, but eventually separated to become an independent municipality.

The municipality has a number of notable cultural events, the most important of which is the El Huey Atlixcayotl, a modern adaptation of an old indigenous celebration.

This event brings anywhere from 800 to 1,500 participants from all over the state of Puebla to create music, dance, and other cultural and artistic performances.

[3] The city of Atlixco received its coat of arms from King Philip II in 1579, which now represents the entire municipality.

Its location made it a battleground among several indigenous peoples, with the populations of Calpan, Huejotzingo and Cholula claiming possession.

[6][7] In 1706 the area became under the direct control of the Spanish Crown, with Philip V granting José Sarmiento Valladares Arines de Romay the royal title of Duke and Lord of Atlixco.

[2] In 1840 the Marquesa Calderón de la Barca visited the community and noted that it was filled with beautiful churches, monasteries and other buildings.

[2] It lies at the foot of the Cerro de San Miguel mountain, which is the main geographical and cultural landmark, marked by a small hermitage at the top dedicated to the Archangel Michael.

[11] The city centers on a main square which is Moorish in style, surrounded by restaurants and other places selling local specialties and ice cream.

[2][11] Notable location on or near the square include the Casa de la Audencia, with its portal supported by Tuscan columns, the Portal Hidalgo, the old Marqués de Santa Martha House, the Botica Poblana pharmacy (founded in 1877 but taken down around 2005), the Rascon Building from the late 19th century, CADAC (an arts and trades school) and the Isaac Ochotorena House from the 18th century.

[2] Another important area of the city is Colonia Cabrera, noted for its abundance of greenhouse production of flowers and ornamental plants.

[3][12] The most important churches in the city date from the 18th century, noted for their intricate "folk Baroque" facades created from stucco by indigenous craftsmen.

The main portal is decorated with paired columns, spiraling vines in high relief and ornamental sculptures in niches on both the upper and lower levels.

The center of this decoration is a niche with an image of the Virgin of Mercy, who shelters Mercedarian founder Pedro Nolasco and other saints with her cloak.

The interior was redone in the 19th century, but maintains a large colonial era portrait of Our Lady of Mercy by José Joaquín Magón as well as an 18th-century inlaid wood pulpit.

The interior was redone in Neo Classical in the 19th century, with one Baroque altarpiece surviving, attributed to Luis Juárez.

[2] In the 16th century, the Augustinians built a monastery under Melchor de Vargas, not for evangelization but rather to represent their order and provide services to the local criollo population.

[11] Tianguis day in the city is Saturday, when streets fill with stalls selling fruits, vegetables, flowers, bread and many other staples.

The center of the territory is a valley floor that extends from north to south, with isolated mountains such as Zoapiltepec and Texistle in the southeast.

[2] The most important annual event in the municipality is known as El Huey Atlixcayotl, a Nahuatl phrase which roughly translates to "the great Atlixco tradition".

[2][12] This event, started in 1965, is a reinvention of an old indigenous celebration that tradition says in the pre Hispanic period honored the god Quetzalcoatl, giving thanks for the harvest.

The main events are on the following day, Sunday, when a parade of between 800 and 1,500 participants from Puebla's eleven regions leaves the town square to climb Cerro de San Miguel, which has a stage area with stands.

At that time, many fathers and other family members went to the United States to work, leading to foreign influences such as Santa Claus.

To give January 6 precedence, the teens took a collection from local businesses to buy thousands of balloons and envelopes so that children could have a mass launch, sending their requests for toys.

[16] The Feria de la Nochebuena (Poinsettia Fair) begins on November 25 and runs through the Christmas season to promote the plants of this type grown in the municipality.

For women, this is the style of the China Poblana, or alternatively a long full flowered skirt with white blouse and rebozo.

[2] The city of Atlixco is a regional commercial, manufacturing and industrial center with textile mills, distilleries and bottling plants.

[4] Traditional handcrafts also are made here and in the rest of the municipality including ceramic utensils, embroidered shirts and blouses and candles.

[3] All of its potted plant production is sold in Mexico, with eighty percent of the cut flowers sent abroad, mostly to the United States.