About Merida

Merida is the capital city and cultural center of the state of Yucatan.  It is located 200 miles west of another world: Cancun. The city center sits atop an important ancient Maya historical site. In the countryside surrounding Merida there are many notable archaeological sites. Merida also has numerous museums, including a fine archaeological and history museum and a contemporary art museum. There are cafes and a good selection of restaurants. There are art galleries, open artist studios and art schools. There are also at least six performance theaters, a symphony, a planetarium, music schools, an English lending library and numerous language schools.

Local public cultural events take place every night of the week in neighborhoods and squares throughout the city. Sunday nights are particularly special in Merida, when streets surrounding the Main Plaza are blocked and feature live music on nearly every block.  Couples, families and a few tourists take to dancing in the street (practice your steps before you get there!).  Adding to the cultural life of Merida is the University of Yucatan. The University enrolls students from Yucatan and other parts of Mexico, as well as up to 12,000 foreign students, mostly Europeans, Americans and Canadians, full-time every year.  Caribbean and Gulf beaches can be reached within forty-five minutes to an hour and a half by bus.

Museo de Arte Contemporaneo Ateneo de Yucatan (MACAY) formerly the Bishop's Palace


Every year the two-week Festival of the City is held in celebration of Merida's anniversary, sponsored by the local govenment and their cultural affairs department. Each year the festival hosts a guest country. In January 2008 Merida marked its 466th anniversary with Cuba as their guest country. In January 2009 Merida will celebrate its 467th anniversary with Spain as their guest country.

The main plaza (or Zocalo) of Merida was once the central site of the Post-Classic Maya town of T’Hó (in Maya lanaguage - Ichcaanzihó, or "The Five Points").  The city of T’Hó, in what was then the Province of Chakan, was thought by the Maya to be the center of the universe, the place where the four cardinal directions met. The earliest construction in the city of T'Hó is dated during the IVth century A.D. and pottery from the IIIrd century B.C. has been found by archaeologists.  However, most structures in T'Hó dated to the VIIIth century A.D.

During the mid-16th century, led by the Spaniard Francisco de Montejo, the numerous temples and pyramids of T’Hó were destroyed. With T’Hó conquered,  the city of Merida was founded on January 6, 1542.  Ancient stones from T’Hó's five pyramids were used to construct many buildings in Merida, most notably, on the east side of the Zocalo, the Catedral de San Ildelfonso (1561-1598), the oldest church in North America.  Across from the Cathedral is Merida's town hall, the Palacio Municipal, built in 1735 with stones from T’Hó and renovated in 1928. To the north is the beautiful Palacio de Gobierno (state office building), 1892, which contains extensive murals by Fernanco Castro Pacheco depicting the turbulent history of the Maya people and the Spanish conquistadors. On the south side of the main plaza is Palacio Montejo, 1542, former home of Francisco de Montejo.

Rear view of Catedral de San Ildelfonso showing ancient stones of T'Hó


Front of the Catedral de San Ildelfonso


At the turn of the century, Merida's affluence flourished due to the cultivation and export of sisal ('green gold', 'sisal' or 'henequén'). Sisal (named after the port city on the coast) is a sturdy and strong vegetable fiber made from the agave cactus and used for rope, twine, clothing, rugs, carry bags and Panama hats.  A different species of agave cactus is cultivated for tequila.

Vintage "Green Gold" the agave cactus


Many haciendas formerlly owned by henequen barons from the 17th century still exist in the countryside surrounding Merida. Several haciendas have been converted to boutique luxury hotels or offer tours.  Hacienda Yaxcopoil is a fine example. Evidence of this rich period of history, when millionaires flourished in Merida, lines the stunning avenue Paseo de Montejo with decadent Victorian mansions. During this period Merida became known as "Ciudad Blanco" (the White City).

A Victorian mansion along Paseo de Montejo


For years, Merida was somewhat isolated due to difficulty reaching the region and this has added to their unique cultural existence in Mexico today. Before the 1950's,  Yucatan was only accessible by boat from Veracruz.  While there were numerous tramways around the Yucatan to facilitate the shipping of sisal and transport workers, there were no railways to connect Yucatan to the rest of Mexico. Many residents of the Yucatan still consider themselves Yucatecans first, and Mexicans second.  Buses now bring visitors across the Yucatan Peninsula from Cancun, cruise ships docked off the coast of the colonial port town of Progresso load tourists onto buses that pass through Merida's outskirts on the way to Chichen Itza, and the nearby international airport connects Merida to the world. Despite increased  transportation options, Merida still retains its unique cultural charm in the midst of being a bustling, expanding city.
Merida is known as the Mexican city with the  highest intolerance for crime, thus earning it awards for "safest city in Mexico."

There is still a strong, thriving Maya community in the surrounding small towns and fishing villages. Merida has a wonderful local market and makes the best hammocks, Guayaberas (classic men's short sleeve shirt with pockets) and Panama hats in all of México. Today, Maya women design, sew and wear hand embroidered huipils (cool white cotton shifts), and fine examples can be found at the main market and at Merida's many craft shops.

Maya women wearing hand embroidered huipils


Street scene in centro



A view of Paseo de Montejo
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The Main Plaza, former site of T'Ho's pyramids