Center for Mayan culture Yucatan was the city Merida is the modern capital of the state of Yucatan, in which there is a noticeable sense of geographic isolation from the rest of the country. Mérida is characterized by its Caribbean atmosphere, Mayan heritage and folk cuisine, white stone colonial architecture and cleanliness.

"White City", as Merida is sometimes called, was founded by the first conquistadors on the peninsula on the ruins of the city of Ichkansijo in 1542. Carved stones from ancient structures were used for the masonry of many buildings of the 17th-18th centuries around main square Independence, or Plaza Grande in the city center.

On the south side of the Zocalo is Casa de Montejo- the mansion of Francisco Montejo, the founder of the city, which once occupied an entire block, of which the main facade in the Plateresque style with decorative elements of the Montejo family has been preserved. Descendants of an old Spanish family lived here until the 1980s, then the building was reconstructed and turned into a museum of colonial life.

Cathedral San Ildefonso 1598 - one of the oldest in Mexico. The exterior of the temple is made in the Renaissance style, but is quite simple: the walls have practically no decoration, and only main entrance framed by Tuscan columns, above which are placed images of Saints Peter and Paul, as well as the shield of the Spanish Crown. Next to the cathedral is the former residence of the bishop, which since 1994 has become the Fernando Garcia Ponce-Masai Museum, which houses collections of modern art, painting and sculpture.

On the north side of the square, the beautiful mint color attracts attention. Government Palace- a two-story mansion with a traditional colonnade, built in 1892. One of the halls of the mansion is dedicated to the history of the peninsula Yucatan, and the painting of the premises was done by local artist Fernando Castro Pacheco.

The quarters of the historical center are named after the parish churches, examples include San Juan, San Cristobal, Santa Ana, Santa Lucia and others. The ancient streets are lined with parks and squares and there are many interesting museums, which include Merida Museum, Numismatic Museum, Yucatan Song Museum, Pinacoteca, Folk Art Museum. There are beautiful quiet corners, for example, Maternidad Park, where near the Church of the Third Order in the shade of greenery there is a sculpture of a mother with two children.

At the end of the 19th century, a group of businessmen Merida decided to give the city a more respectable European look, as a result of which the avenue appeared Paseo de Montejo, the prototype of which was the Parisian Champs Elysees.

Tour the avenue and see its elegant colonial mansions, monuments to the conquistadors of Montejo, the sailor Gonzalo Guerrero and the monumental complex La Patria as unforgettable as excursions to archaeological sites, or a trip to the biosphere reserve 56 km from Merida, where colonies of American pink flamingos live in natural conditions.

One of the symbols Merida became local cooking, based on a mixture of Mayan customs and gastronomic traditions of Europe and Caribbean, offering a complex combination of flavors. The best dishes are annatto-marinated suckling pig (Cochinita Pibil), stuffed cheese (Queso Relleno) and spicy turkey (Relleno Negro), which can be tasted in many Mexican restaurants.

Friends! If you have any questions - don't hesitate! - ask them in the comments below or write to me on social networks!

Merida (Spain) - the most detailed information about the city with photos. The main attractions of Merida with descriptions, guides and maps.

City of Merida (Spain)

Merida - ancient city in southwest Spain. Located on the Guadiana River and is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Extremadura. Merida is the Spanish Rome. Here are the majestic ruins of ancient buildings, which are the largest on the Iberian Peninsula and are included in the list of sites World Heritage UNESCO. The Roman city of Emerita Augusta was founded in the 25th century BC. At that time it was largest settlement in the Pyrenees and the capital of the province of Lusitania. The ancient era left Merida with a unique heritage in the form of ancient ruins that can be found in the eastern part of the historical center.

Geography and climate

Mérida is located on the Ruta de la Plata on the Guadiana River, in the center of the Extremadura region, north of the province of Badajoz. The climate is Mediterranean. Winters are mild, with lows that rarely fall below 0 °C, and summers are hot, with highs that sometimes exceed 40 °C. As for precipitation, annual amounts typically range from 450 to 500 mm. The wettest months are November and December.

Best time to visit

Best time visits: April-June and September-October.

Practical information

  1. Population - 55.7 thousand people.
  2. Area - 865.6 square kilometers.
  3. Language - Spanish.
  4. Currency - euro.
  5. Visa - Schengen.
  6. Time - Central European UTC +1, summer +2.
  7. Tourist information centers located: Plaza Margarita Xirgu and C / Santa Eulalia, 62.

Story

Merida was founded by the Romans in 25 BC during the reign of Emperor Octavian Augustus. In antiquity, the city was called Emerita Augusta and was the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania. It was the largest and most prosperous city in Iberia, and was home to a large military garrison. The Romans built numerous structures here: a bridge over the Guadiana, an amphitheater, a theater, and an aqueduct. The 800-meter bridge has been perfectly preserved to this day and was one of the largest structures of its kind in the entire Roman Empire.

After the breakup great empire Merida belonged to the Visigoths. A bishopric was formed here, and the city itself became one of the main religious centers on the Iberian Peninsula. In 713, Merida was captured by the Arabs, who built the Moorish Alcazaba on the ruins of an ancient ancient fortress.


Roman theater in Merida

The city was recaptured from the Moors in 1230 by King Alfonso IX of León. He placed it at the disposal of the Order of St. Santiago. In the 19th century, a rich historical and cultural heritage was damaged during military conflicts and as a result of industrialization.

How to get there

Merida has access to the Ruta de la Plata (Gijon - Seville) and A5 (Madrid - Badajoz - Lisbon) motorways. In addition, Merida is a key railway center for trains to Madrid, Lisbon, Seville, Badajoz, Caceres. There are also regular bus services to these cities. The nearest airports are 50 km (Badajoz Airport) and 200 km (Seville Airport).

Shopping and purchases

The main shopping area is located in the area of ​​Santa Eulalia, Félix Valverde Lillo, Rambla, Moreno de Vargas. To buy typical products, souvenirs and archaeological reproductions, the best place to go is Calle José Ramón Melida and the surrounding area national museum Roman art. In the western part of Merida there are several shopping centers and large supermarkets.

Food and drink

Mérida's gastronomy is distinguished by its natural flavors, high quality ingredients and simplicity. There is a gastronomic tradition of cold dishes: southern-style cold soups (gazpacho, ayoblanc), salads. Another typical feature of the cuisine is the variety of Spanish tapas. All dishes go well with a glass of local Ribera del Guadiana wine.


Attractions

The main attractions of Merida are the ancient ruins and buildings from the Roman Empire.

Sights of antiquity


The Roman Theater is one of the symbols of Merida, a magnificent ancient monument built by Agrippa in 16 BC. and rebuilt in the 1st century AD after a fire during the reign of Hadrian. It is very well preserved and has been beautifully restored. The theater has the shape of an ellipse. It could accommodate 6,000 spectators. The back wall of the stage buildings has magnificent sculptural decorations. In ancient times, behind them there was a garden that served as a foyer. The theater is still used for various cultural events and activities.

There is a museum of Roman art nearby. It contains a magnificent collection of Roman antiquities found in Merida: ancient coins, sculptures, glassware, ceramics and tombstone wall paintings. The museum was built on top archaeological sites, and excavations are being carried out in the basement.


The amphitheater is located next to the ancient theater. It was built in 15 BC and accommodated about 15,000 spectators. Gladiator fights were held here. After the ban on fighting, the amphitheater was dismantled. Interestingly, even naval battles were held in its bowl. The stage could have been flooded with water allowing small vessels to float.

Next to the Roman amphitheater are the ruins of a Roman villa. In this area, several rooms decorated with frescoes, corridors with mosaics and beautiful open space, and the remains of thermal baths have been preserved.


The Temple of Diana is a majestic ancient religious building that is one of the most beautiful Roman buildings in Merida. The temple building is a peripterus - a rectangular structure framed by columns. The granite columns have Corinthian capitals, typical of Roman architecture. Archaeologists believe that there was a garden with a pond next to the building. In the 16th century, the temple was converted into a palace for the Duke of Corbos, but the ancient structure is still visible.


The Roman Hippodrome is a unique (for Spain) ancient structure located in the northwest of the amphitheater. Used as a place for chariot races and later for war games. The circus has a rectangular shape and is divided in the middle by a longitudinal platform. The arena where the races took place and the seating are still visible. The ancient hippodrome is one of the best preserved structures of its type in Europe.


Arch of Trajan - impressive ancient Roman Triumphal Arch. Located in the city center a little north of Plaza de España. The Arch of Trajan is 15 meters high and was the northern gate to Emerita Augusta.


Los Milagros is an ancient Roman aqueduct that supplied water to antique city from a reservoir located 10 km away. The ancient Roman dam used to create a reservoir on the Abarregas River is still visible. The aqueduct is a massive engineering structure built of granite and brick with three floors of arches, water tanks and distribution towers. The ruins represent more than a dozen arches of the original structure, which are perfectly preserved.


The Roman Bridge is one of Merida's most iconic landmarks. Ancient Bridge was built across the Guadiana River during the reign of Emperor Augustus and linked Emerita Augusta and Tarragona. Its length is 792 meters. It is one of the largest Roman bridges in Spain. Constructed of reinforced granite and consisting of 60 arches.

Moorish heritage


Alcazaba is an ancient Moorish citadel, built in 855 by expanding an ancient Roman fortress. Located south of Piazza di Spagna on the banks of the Guadiana River. After the Reconquista it was transformed into the monastery of St. Santiago.

Sacred architecture


Santa Maria de la Asuncion is a three-nave church built between the 13th and 15th centuries on the site of an earlier Visigothic temple. The religious building was founded by the Grand Master of the Order of Santiago. The church retains elements of 13th century architecture, although most of it dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries.


Santa Eulalia is a 13th century basilica built during the Reconquista. It is located on the site of an ancient Visigothic temple from the 4th century, which, in turn, stood on the site of an even more ancient Roman temple. The original church was destroyed by the Almohads, Islamic rulers who conquered Andalusia and other areas of the Iberian Peninsula. Modern building has Romanesque architecture, three naves and a semicircular apse. Beneath the basilica are the remains of ancient Roman houses and an early Christian necropolis.

Independence Square is located in the city center.

There is an ancient monument to the Heroes of Independence, which was erected here on August 10, 1809.

Independence Square received its modern name in the sixteenth century. Since its creation, the square has been rebuilt more than once. Originally located here main source water for local residents, and therefore it was always crowded. A little later, historically significant buildings began to appear here.

On Independence Square there are the ancient Cathedral, the Carondelet Palace, the Municipal Palace and the Archbishop's Palace.

The first tiles appeared here in the seventeenth century. And in the nineteenth century, low steps were built at the entrance to the square. It has remained in this state to this day.

There is a fountain in the southern part of Independence Square. Everyone who approaches the fountain must make a wish and throw a coin into the fountain to make it come true.

Merida City Museum

The Municipal Museum of Mérida is a museum that houses exhibits about the political and cultural development Mexico. The city museum was created in 1986. It is located in former temple San Juan de Dios, built in the 17th century. The museum has several halls. Each of them houses exhibits dating back to a specific era. In the “Antiquities” hall, tourists are presented with objects whose origin dates back to the year 900 AD. Here you can see zoomorphic engravings, clay vessels, as well as the first decorations.

The Hall of Military Glory houses items related to military actions in which Mexico participated. Guns, daggers, revolvers, as well as military uniforms of commanders-in-chief and ordinary soldiers are stored here. The museum has created a special exhibition of paintings and graphics. It features works by local artists. The Merida City Museum is open daily from ten in the morning to eight in the evening.

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Merida city center

Merida is the cultural and spiritual capital of the Yucatan Peninsula, as if frozen in the colonial past with its narrow streets, wide squares, beautiful women and gallant men.

Merida was founded in the mid-16th century and was the first city built by Spanish colonialists in the state of Yucatan on the site ancient settlement Mayan. Limestone was once mined here, so the city center is almost entirely white - it’s not for nothing that Merida received the nickname “White City”.

The architectural appearance of the old city is full of special colonial charm. From its founding until the mid-19th century, Merida was a fortified city, but almost nothing remains of its military past. But from those years when Merida was the largest shopping center and had more millionaires than any other city in the world, quite a few have survived.

First of all, this is the monumental boulevard Paseo de Montejo, built in the image and likeness of the Champs Elysees in Paris, surrounded by expensive mansions and centuries-old trees. Today Paseo de Montejo is the most fashionable area of ​​the city: expensive restaurants, dance clubs, hotels, offices of large companies, etc. are located here. One of the most remarkable buildings on the boulevard is undoubtedly the Palacio Canton mansion, which houses Regional Museum anthropology.

Not far from the main boulevard there are central square Plaza Grande, main cathedral Merida, which is considered one of the oldest on the American continent, the Palacio de Gobierno, where the government of the State of Yucatan operates, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Casa de Montejo (the oldest building in the city) and many other attractions.

Almost every evening in numerous parks and squares in the city center there are free concerts, creative and dance evenings, as well as holidays, folklore performances and carnivals dedicated to Mayan culture and traditions.

Kite Club Yucatan is one of largest centers aquatic species sports in Mexico. On the territory of a private club, owned by American athletes, there is a kite surfing school, a small hotel and a restaurant.

The club is located on the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. This place is famous for its winds and moderate warm climate. The strongest winds blow in the Yucatan from April to June, and at this time the club is filled with water lovers kites, who specifically come to Mexico to practice their skills.

The club operates a kite surfing school; instructors teach classes for both experienced athletes and green beginners. Club Yucatan is developing as a major tourist center- club specialists organize water cruises, fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, excursions to coastal caves and tours to abandoned and flooded cities of the ancient Mayans.

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Merida Cathedral

The Cathedral of Saint Ildefonso in Merida is the largest religious building in Mexico and is considered the second largest cathedral in the New World. This majestic building has a dramatic aura surrounding it. During its construction, the Spanish conquerors used the Mayans as cheap labor, forcing the indigenous people to destroy their own city in order to glorify the new arrival New World culture. Some of the stones that make up the cathedral are stones from destroyed Mayan temples.

Saint-Ildefonso was built in 1561 with the blessing of Pope Pius IV. The architect of the cathedral is Juan Miguel de Aguero. The interior of the cathedral is quite simple. But its echoing sacred space does not need decoration. The scale and grandeur of the building in its simplicity is stunning. And one of the most impressive and impressive elements of the interior is the huge crucifix inside the cathedral.

The most popular attractions in Merida with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places for visiting famous places Merida on our website.

More attractions of Merida

We've been sitting in Merida at the computers for a week now, puffing like real steam locomotives - I'm working, Zhanka is planning our next life. The day before yesterday, however, we went to look at Uxmal, but I still want to go out and see what kind of city this is in which we live. Today we will dedicate the day to this.

As soon as we reached the city center, we discovered that it did not look at all like faceless Veracruz, but was quite Mexican. And there are cathedrals, and parks, and all other attributes.

In the very heart of the city there was an administrative building that had some connection with the governor. We thought that either we couldn’t come here at all, or we needed to buy tickets somewhere, like for a museum. But no, we slipped past a bunch of police officers inside and no one even paid attention to us. We looked at the wall murals, looked into the slightly open doors and headed off to explore the property further.



By the way, there was something to see. These are mainly murals (frescoes) dedicated to the communication between the indigenous Mayans and the arriving Spaniards. Communication was, apparently, in the form of a monologue: the Spaniards told the Indians what to do and how to live, and if they did not agree, they dealt with them. Classic story. Apparently, the United States is doing the same thing now, bringing democracy and other Coca-Cola around the world.


We ran past the cafe and, realizing that something was wrong with it, returned back. It turned out that everything is so, it’s just that a different street is depicted on the walls.


Tents with similar magazines are found everywhere, in all cities of Mexico. In Mexico City, a whole market block was dedicated to the intimate details of life around the world;)

Casa de Montejo, that is, the home of certain Montejos, conquerors of Yucatan. Gloomy, but impressive.


What's the surroundings like? It doesn’t even seem like living people lived here and took advantage of everything around them. For example, you could sit on one of these chairs and nothing would happen for it)) Now they specially put stripes on the floor that you can’t go behind, and even a security guard was on our heels, keeping an eye on us. By the way, admission is free, although it is kind of like a museum. Maybe because it's Tuesday.

Attention, members of the intellectual club “What? Where? Why?”, quick question - what is it?


There were a surprising number of shops in the city that sold various indigenous crafts. These residents come to the city three days a week and bring heaps of all sorts of things from their villages. One of them is hats made of special material that can last for decades without losing their properties. In addition to hats, various textile products: tapestries, clothes, bags and other useful items. I even almost bought myself a shirt made from local magical material, only the price stopped me - 1300 pesos (~3500 rubles). The photo shows the courtyard of one of the shops.


For a second it seemed that we were transported to Campeche. The landscape is one-on-one - we had the same building with arches next to the hotel.


Recently we have become regulars at the popular Mexican ice cream shops. However, they also sell something else - these are the drinks with ice. Today we decided to try it for the first time. Sheboldasik’s first words after taking a sip of some “tea” drink: “Ahhh, why didn’t we take this before?!” Really tasty, refreshing and generally fun. Today we visited similar shops several more times, trying different drinks. A glass costs 10-15 pesos (about the same as a half-liter bottle of Coca-Cola).


Tourists are transported around the center in carriages. The meaning of this action is unclear to me. Okay in the countryside, but standing in a carriage in a traffic jam is so-so romantic. Or am I missing something in this life?))


National features of cafe design. The chairs, by the way, are exactly the same as those that were in Eduardo’s house in Guanajuato.

Yes, the city center is still nice. And we're lucky with the weather today. It's true, it's very hot. We move mainly along the shadows of buildings.


Los Arcos. One of the architectural elements that always attracts attention. If you make a square opening in the wall, no one will pay attention. Make it rounded - tourists will immediately start taking pictures))

Have you heard about the beautiful city Yucatan? Let's go, Merida is waiting for us! What to see, where to stay, photos and reviews.

On a picturesque peninsula, caressed by the tropical sun, rises one of the most beautiful Mexican cities - Merida. This the city, sometimes called white, is the largest populated area Yucatan, at the same time being the capital of the state of the same name.

Merida is located in the flat part of the peninsula, in the very place where a meteorite collided with the Earth more than 60 million years ago, which, according to some scientists, caused the death of dinosaurs. Today the Chicxulub crater, a remnant of that prehistoric catastrophe, is natural monument and is open to everyone.

The heritage of Spanish architecture in Merida - cozy courtyards

History of Merida

Before the arrival of the conquistadors, on the site of Merida stood an Indian city known as Ichkanzijo or Tho, which literally means “city of five hills.” These same five hills were the well-known temple pyramids, which served as the main shrine for the locals. Tho himself remained the capital of Mayan culture throughout the entire Yucatan for hundreds of years. The Spaniards captured Tho in 1542, at which time the city received its real name. Later, the ruins of the Indian buildings were dismantled, and the stones were used to build administrative and residential buildings, as well as city walls.

Today, walking around Merida, you can see here and there the ancient stones of the city of Tho. The clearest example architecture of this kind is Cathedral San Ildefonso. Among other things, Merida is the first city built by the Spaniards in Yucatan, all later buildings in this region were built by analogy.

The heyday of the city of Merida occurred in the period from the late 19th - early 20th centuries; at that time the city actively traded in henequin - raw materials for rope, paper and matting.

Evidence of the success of the city and the wealth of its inhabitants in those days is the huge number of luxurious mansions built in those “fat” years on Paseo de Montejo - Avenue, which today is very popular among tourists coming to vacation on the Yucatan Peninsula. Today these mansions are occupied by offices of large banks, all kinds of companies, etc.

What is interesting about the city of Merida

What to see first: the historical center of Merida

Colonial mansions from the heyday of Merida

Modern Merida is a symbiosis of many cultures, home to the descendants of Spanish colonizers, English traders and, more than anywhere else in Mexico, descendants of the Mayan Indians. The mixture of European and indigenous cultures is also evidenced by the dialect spoken here. It is a mixture of Old Spanish, Classical Spanish and Mayan. In addition, here you can hear the ancient Mayan language - Yucatecan.

The formation of a unique culture in Merida is due to a rather long period of natural isolation of the city from mainland Mexico.

This city, sometimes called white, is the largest settlement in the Yucatan, and is also the capital of the state of Merida of the same name.

The city has preserved many ancient traditions, one of which is the celebration of Hanal Pixan, a holiday similar to the Mexican Day of the Dead and pagan Halloween. During the holiday, from November 1st to 2nd, the city is decorated with cardboard skeletons and skulls, and processions of mummers with lit torches and lamps parade through its streets.

What to see in Merida

Unfortunately, all that remained of the old Indian town was the street layout, the buildings were dismantled and their place was taken by the Spanish colonial style architecture that can be seen today. Historical Center Merida is considered one of the largest in the whole Latin America and is second in size only to Mexico City and Havana.

In addition, in the city you can visit a number of large museums, such as archaeological, historical and modern art museums. To increase the tourist popularity of the city of Merida, the city authorities annually organize street exhibitions, to which sculptors and artists from all over the world are invited.

And, of course, it would not be Mexico if here, as in any other city in the country, it was impossible to see a huge number of ancient churches and temples.

Cathedral, Merida