MERIDIA

Merida

 

 

Merida is the capital and largest city in Yucatan state and the cultural and financial capital of the region. It’s a modern, cosmopolitan city with museums, art galleries, restaurants, shops and boutiques. A major center of commerce, Merida Yucatan is considered the crossroads of the region and one of the most important places to experience the Mayan heritage.
Mérida was founded in 1542 by Francisco de Montejo “el Mozo” (the son), and built on the site of the ancient Maya city T’ho, meaning “city of five hills.” T’ho was the center of Mayan culture and activity in the Yucatan region. After the arrival of the Spanish, the ancient city’s five main pyramids were destroyed and their ruins used in the construction of Merida’s cathedral and other important buildings.
Merida was built as a walled city and several of the old Spanish city gates remain. The city boasts the second-largest historic center in Mexico; only Mexico City’s historic center is larger. Mérida gets its nickname, La Ciudad Blanca (The White City), from the predominance of white limestone that was used as a building material; although locals today will tell you that it also has to do with the cleanliness of the city’s streets and public areas, not to mention how safe is Merida, Mexico.
As a result of its unique geographic location, strong Spanish influence and isolation from other parts of Mexico, Merida developed a distinct cultural and political identity. The unique culture and traditions that you’ll experience when you travel to Merida, Mexico are overwhelmingly apparent in the local dress, language, cuisine and the observance of holidays and celebrations.
Not only is Spanish spoken with a distinct accent in Yucatan, but Yucatec Maya is spoken by one third of the population of Yucatan state. The cuisine in Merida Yucatan is also distinct in that it differs from traditional Mexican cuisine and is representative of the local indigenous culture and the Caribbean, Mexican, European and Middle Eastern influences in the region.
The traditional music and dance of Yucatan is known as Vaqueria Regional. It plays an important role in the Vaquerías Feast which was originally associated with the branding of cattle on Yucatecan haciendas. You can catch weekly performances in Merida’s central plaza.
Chances are that you’ll spend at least part of your Yucatán vacation shopping for handicrafts. Merida is famous for the guayabera, a loose fitting men’s shirt with tucks and pockets. Traditional guayaberas are white, made from cotton or linen and often embroidered. Here you’ll also find hipiles, dresses or tunics worn by the indigenous women of the region. Hipiles are often white with colorful embroidered designs that traditionally convey some sort of meaning within the local community.
Or perhaps you’ll choose to spend part of your Yucatán vacation relaxing in a hammock. The hammocks that you’ll find in Mérida, Yucatán are of a high quality and made from cotton string that’s woven into a fine mesh. They’re extremely popular and commonly used throughout the region.
Finally, explore more of the Yucatán region when you travel to Mérida, Mexico with visits to nearby towns, Mayan ruins and cenotes (underwater sinkholes).


Merida's Historic Heart

Merida’s centro historico (historic center) is one of the largest in Mexico and laid out on a grid pattern. Many of the buildings in the historic center of Merida, including those on and around the Plaza Grande (central plaza), were built during the colonial period through the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Cathedral de San Ildefonso (San Ildefonso Cathedral) is the oldest cathedral on the continent and one of the top Merida attractions. It was built between 1561 and 1598 using stones from ruined Mayan pyramids and temples. The interior is sparsely decorated and a crucifix behind the main altar symbolizes the reconciliation of the Spanish and Mayan heritage of the city. Housed in a chapel off to the left, you’ll find the most important religious artifact in Merida, the Cristo de las Ampollas (Christ of the Blisters).
The Christ of the Blisters figure that’s found in the cathedral is a replica of the original Christ figure that was recovered from a burned church in the nearby town of Ichmul. The original figure dates to the 16th century and was carved from the wood of a tree that had burned after being hit by lightning, but did not char. When the church in Ichmul caught fire, the figure was blistered but unharmed. It was named Christ of the Blisters and relocated to Merida’s cathedral in 1645. The replica that’s on display in the cathedral today was created to replace the original after the sacking of the city by revolutionary forces in 1915.
Located on the south side of the central plaza is the Casa de Montejo (Montejo House), a 16th century Spanish plateresque-style building and former home of the Montejo family. A visit to the Montejo House, with its monumental carved stone facade, is one of the important things to do in Merida.
Another of the important things to do in Merida is to tour the interior of the Palacio Municipal (City Hall). The interior of the City Hall building is decorated with murals by Yucatecan artist Fernando Castro Pacheco. The murals depict scenes from Merida’s history. The adjoining building houses a cultural center and frequently hosts performances and exhibitions.
Merida’s central plaza is especially popular on Sunday evenings when the city hosts its weekly Merida en Domingo (Merida on Sunday) street festival with live music and dancing. The central plaza is also a great place to sample some of the city’s local flavor. Street food vendors offer marquesitas (cheese filled crepes) and champolas (milkshake style beverages made with sherbert) to hungry festival-goers.


Izamal: The Magical Yellow City

After departing Mérida, travel east to arrive at Izamal, a colonial town with a distinct small town feel. Izamal is one of Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos (Magic Towns), a designation given by the Mexican secretary of Tourism to towns that have an important historical or cultural significance. Houses, shops and churches throughout Izamal are all painted the same shade of golden-yellow and the town has been nicknamed La Ciudad Armarillo (The Yellow City).
Izamal was an important Maya religious center and today you can visit the ruins of four large pyramids that overlook the center of town. Climb to the top of the Kinich Kak Mo Pyramid. Built during the early-Classic period, this pyramid to the Mayan sun god spans an entire block and offers magnificent views of the town and surrounding Yucatán region.
After the arrival of the Spanish, the Maya pyramids and temples were destroyed and colonial buildings and churches built in their place, often using the original Maya stones and building materials. In the center of Izamal you’ll find the Convento de San Antonio de Padua (Convent of San Antonio Padua), an enormous Franciscan monastery and one of the oldest Catholic monasteries in the Americas. The Convent of San Antonio Padua is painted the same shade of golden-yellow as the rest of Izamal.
Take a tour of the yellow city of Izamal in a calesa (horse-drawn carriage). Tours often include stops at local artisans’ workshops where you can browse a variety of local handicrafts and folk art including colorfully embroidered hipiles (dresses or tunics), hammocks and jewelry made from local materials such as henequen, native woods and cocoyol seeds.
After touring Izamal, head southwest toward the town of Cuzamá where you can visit three cenotes (underwater sinkholes). The cenotes are located just outside of town on the grounds of an old hacienda henequenera (henequen plantation) and accessible by horse-drawn railcart.