The city of Coatepec, in the state of Veracruz, is located 80 kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico and stood on the old road to Mexico City since the 15th century. It is located on the slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental at 1,252 meters above sea level, and its economic and social development is based on agricultural production that, since the 17th century, was focused on products such as sugar, tobacco and citrus. Today it is known worldwide for its coffee production.

The name Coatepec derives from Nahuatl and means “on the hill of the serpents.” The beginnings of the settlement date back to the Totonac people; some time after the conquest it was officially founded with the name of San Jerónimo Coatepec. In 1848 the State Congress granted it the rank of Villa due to the defensive actions of its inhabitants during the Mexican-American War; by 1886 it was already considered a city.

The Zone of Historical Monuments, declared on November 24, 2000, covers an area of 1.8 km2, formed by 49 blocks that boast a number of buildings of historical value, among which those dedicated to religious worship stand out, such as the Parish Church of San Jerónimo Coatepec, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Churches of Calvario and La Luz.

Other notable sights are the Cural house, the Civil Hospital, the Municipal Pantheon, the Benito Juárez Cantonal School, the House of Culture, the Secondary School for Workers, the Presidency and the Municipal Jail, the Hidalgo Park and the lookout point of Cerro de las Culebras. The historically significant bridges are La Granja, San Andrés, Xicoténcatl, Zaragoza, La Luz, Las Tenerías or Los Pintores, El Panteón, La Pastoresa, Tablas, Tejocotal and El Obrador, La Orduña, the old Railroad Bridge to Xalapa, and El Trianón. In addition, in the vicinity of the town a number of haciendas and beneficios functioned as productive estates, such as Mahuixtlán, Tuzamapa, El Grande, Zimpizahua, Bola de Oro and Santa Fe.

Construction of the Parish Church of San Jerónimo Coatepec began in 1684 and was completed in 1806. The indigenous population participated in its construction, with the result that it has elements typical of pre-Hispanic constructions such as the stylized representation of the jaws of a snake at the entrance to the enclosure.

There is also a great variety of industrial architecture that is currently preserved, such as farms, mills, factories and masonry and iron bridges. In the region there are ancient mule tracks connecting towns across the mountains, and Coatepec belongs to a region of Veracruz known as the Sugar and Coffee Route. In addition to having one of the most important sugar mills in the area, it has developed a significant tourist and coffee industry.