Merida Sites and Attractions

Sites and Attractions 

Plaza Grande

The heart of the city and historical centre, the plaza is a social arena for the citizens of Merida and hosts many cultural activities throughout the week. Said to have been the religious centre of the previous Mayan city, today the plaza is shaded by trees and populated with strollers, couples, and food vendors. Be sure to take your partner to one of the ‘love seats' which are designed in a S-shape to have you looking into each others eyes. Sunday is fiesta day on the plaza and the roads surrounding it are closed down for pedestrians use and street entertainment.

Cathedral of San Idelfonso

Thought to have been built over and with the stones of a Mayan temple, it is argued that this may be the oldest cathedral in Mexico, certainly in the Yucatan. Construction began in 1561 and took until 1588 until it was completed. Take the time to quietly move amongst the inner chapels with their neoclassical altarpieces, and view the replica of the Cristo de las Ampollas (Christ of Blisters), a religious artifact renowned for the miracle of resisting destruction from a fire that burnt throughout the night.

Government Palace / Palacio de Gobierno

Completed in 1892 the neoclassical building was rebuilt after fire destroyed the original palace. Head past the guards and through the archway into the interior courtyard. By climbing the inner stone stairway you can enter an elegant room displaying the murals painted by Fernando Castro Pacheco between 1952 and 1878. They represent the history of the area, focusing on the plight of the indigenous people after the conquistadors arrived and the Mexican Revolution. The building also houses the seat of the state government.

Municipal Palace

Merida's city hall, with its tower featuring the municipal clock, is also the location of the tourist information centre which is found on the bottom floor; the office is also the starting point for the free daily walking tour at 9.30 am. An important building in the colonial history of the city, it is believed to have served as palace, town council assembly and jail. The building today displays the oldest coat of arms for Merida and the city council assembly room.

Casa De Montejo

The city founder and conquistador, Francisco de Montejo, had this building commissioned in 1542 and it remained the property of his descendants up-until 1980. The intricate façade around the doorway has remained intact from the days of its construction and depicts in stone Spanish conquerors with a foot triumphantly upon the heads of Mayans. Today it is a branch of the Banamex Bank and ATM machines can be found just under the archway.

Museo Macay

Walk to the pedestrian arcade next to the Cathedral to find the entrance of the Museum of Contemporary Art Athenaeum of Yucatan (MACAY). At the entrance you are often welcomed by a sculpture exhibition and within the museum are displayed permanent works by Yucatecan artists, along with temporary exhibitions by local artists.

Paseo de Montejo

The Paseo de Montejo is a great avenue inaugurated in 1904 and said to be designed to look like the Champs Elysees in Paris. The Avenue showcases many grand historical mansions built by rich hacienda owners. Today it is a commercial street where hotels, banks and restaurants line the streets. What makes it especially pleasant to walk down (or riding a horse-drawn carriage through) is a collection of changing outdoor sculptures sponsored by the Museum of Modern Art that grace the side walks. This includes the remains of a tree trunk left by hurricane Isidore and then later worked into a striking sculpture. On the Avenue you will also find the Museum of Anthropolgy and Saturday hosts a street fair.

Museum of Anthropology

Found in a bueatiful old mansion on Paseo de Montejo this museum has interesting Mayan artifact displays and natural history exhibits from the Yucatan area aswell as from other areas of Mexico. Included are examples of skulls that were purposely distorted by the Mayan Indians and artifacts that were recovered from the cenote in Chichen Itza. Unfortunately, most of the displays are only explained in Spanish, though sometimes it is possible to hire an English-speaking guide on site.

The National Museum of Popular Art

Favorable art from the Yucatan and the nation as a whole is on display in this museum.

Merida City Museum

Across the way from the city market you will find the city museum which has taken up quarters in the old post office building. Exhibits will run you through the Meridas history from the time it was the Mayan centre of T'ho to the conquest by the Spanish. It also shares the history of how henequen created an economic boom (well at least among the elite) in the 1900's along with other modern cultural themes.