Merida on Mexico

Merida, the dynamic capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán, has a rich Mayan and colonial heritage. The nerve center of the city is the Plaza de la Independencia, bordered by the cathedral, a fortress reminiscent of the cathedral of Merida, and the white limestone Iglesia de la Tercera Orden. The Casa de Montejo, a 16th century mansion, is an emblematic monument of colonial Plateresque architecture.

Since the Spanish conquest, Mérida is the cultural capital of the entire Yucatán peninsula. Delicious mixture of province and cosmopolitan, it is a city steeped in colonial history. It is an ideal place to explore, with its narrow streets, large central squares and the best museums in the area. It is also the ideal place to start your adventure in the rest of the state of Yucatán. It offers excellent food and accommodation, flourishing markets and nightly events.

Long popular with European travelers looking to go beyond the hustle and bustle of Quintana Roo's resort towns, Merida is a tourist town, but too touristy to feel like a tourist trap. As the state capital of Yucatán, Mérida is also the cultural hub of the region. There is something elitist in Mérida: the inhabitants have a beautiful city and they know it.