Merida - Culture

Merida, Mexico is the provincial capital of the Yucatan, located in southeastern Mexico. Merida is a beautiful city that displays the richness of the dynamic between the Mayan and Spain colonial history in this region As one of the centers of the Mayan people, Merida sits minutes away from some of the world's most incredible anthropological sites: Chichen Itza, a major Mayan city. Tulum, the site where the first Spaniards shipwrecked and encountered the Yucatec Mayans in 1511; and Valladolid, the colonial town where the famous re-conquest of land originated as the Caste War that began in 1847 and established a Mayan free state until the twentieth century. Merida houses a major national university and several important regional museums. The historical, anthropological and cultural wealth of this region and city are accentuated by the natural beauty of the nearby coastline of the world renowned beaches including Cancun and Progresso.

The city of Merida is the center of one of the last great strongholds of Mexico's indigenous people. To this day, most Mayan descendents don't speak Spanish and consider themselves Yucatenos first, and Mexicans second. This monument was built to honour the heritage of the people of the Yucatan and to honor the country of Mexico.

Merida Mexico holds many beautiful examples of colonial architecture, one of which is the Hidalgo Park Church of the Third Order, which contains beautiful frescoes and chandeliers. There are also many beautiful colonial houses, some of which serve as businesses. There are hotels - in fact, more than 73% of the hotel rooms of the Yucatan are in Merida. There are many fine restaurants, banks and the American Consulate. Merida's International Airport has two runways and five maneuvering streets. There is landing and take-off facilities for most types of passenger and commercial aircraft.

The Cathedral, situated on the east side of the Plaza is one of Merida's many interesting places to visit. Across the Plaza is the Palacio Municipal (1735), Merida's Town Hall.