Veracruz

Veracruz holds the official title ‘Cuatro Veces Heroica’ (Four Times Heroic) for the four occasions its people resisted foreign attacks: the expulsion of the last Spanish garrison at San Juan de Ulúa (1825), the French bombardment during the Pastry War (1838), the landing of United States forces in the Mexican-American War (1847) and the United States occupation of 1914. Founded by Cortés in 1519, it has been Mexico’s principal Gulf port throughout its history.