Coming down this winter and looking for things to do? Why not plan a trip to Merida, capital of the Yucatan. Visit the museums, shop for crafts and sample the cuisine or simply soak up the ambiance. Cooler temperatures during the winter months make strolling through its historic heart a delight.
Founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco de Montejo in 1542, on the site of a much earlier Mayan city, Merida is a treasure trove of history and traditions. Its attractions include a stately Cathedral and other colonial churches, late 19th-century mansions that are the legacy of the henequen boom, quiet squares lined with open-air cafes, bustling craft markets and an interesting collection of museums.
Stroll through the main square dominated by the 16th-century Cathedral, City Hall, Government House and the palatial home of Francisco de Montejo, Casa de Montejo. Continue along Calle 60, taking in Hidalgo Park and the Church of the Third Order, the impressive Peon Contreras Theater and the University of Yucatan. Keep walking north past Santa Lucia Square and Santa Ana Park until you reach Paseo de Montejo, Merida’s famous boulevard inspired by the Champs-Élysées. The tree-lined avenue is lined with opulent mansions dating from the late 19th century and the first years of the 20th century, the days of the henequen boom. Local families and hacienda owners grew rich from the cultivation of this native agave plant that yields a tough fiber used to make rope and sacking; it proved so lucrative that it was known as “green gold.”
Site of the Regional Anthropology Museum, Palacio Canton is the most famous of the mansions on Paseo de Montejo, and Quinta Montes Molina is another private home that has been turned into a museum. For more insight into Mayan culture, don’t miss the impressive multimedia museum Museo de la Gran Cultura Maya on Prolongacion Montejo. If you would like to learn more about the ancient and colonial history of the city visit the Merida City Museum housed in the old Post Office building. Call in at the Museum of Popular Art on Calle 50 near Mejorada Park and if you are interested in music, there’s even a museum dedicated to trova, a musical genre of romantic ballads with guitar accompaniment that originated in Merida.
Whether it’s a piano recital or a ballet, an art exhibition or a festival, there is always something going on somewhere in Merida, and with its theaters, galleries and universities, the city enjoys quite a reputation as a cultural center. It even has its own symphony orchestra and there are free concerts and folk dance displays staged during the week in a variety of locations, including the main square, Santa Lucia square, Calle 60 and Paseo de Montejo.
A representation of the famous Vaqueria or folk dances is staged in front of City Hall on Monday, there’s a concert of trova music in Santa Lucia on Thursday and the Heart of Mexico festival brings the city center to life on Saturday night. The Merida en Domingo gala takes place in the main square and surrounding streets on Sunday and is a pleasant way to spend the day sampling local food, purchasing crafts and enjoying Yucatecan music and dance.
Contact Thomas More Travel to organize your Merida trip. Enjoy a couple of days in the city or take the Merida & Uxmal overnight tour. There’s even a one-day trip to Merida and Hacienda Sotuta de Peon for an introduction to the history of henequen.
