MERIDA, Mexico --
This city, the charismatic capital of Yucatan state, is a 40-minute
drive north of the new cruise-ship terminal at Progreso.
An extraordinary
blend of Old World charm and New World sophistication, the city is
a treasure trove of art galleries, vivid native markets and
magnificent colonial buildings.
In the must-see,
high-points category, theres the historical center of the Plaza
Grande, or main square, fronted by a number of the most admired,
celebrated buildings in the Yucatan:
" Start with the
spectacular Cathedral of San Ildefonso, on the east side of the
plaza. It was the first such structure to be built inland in all of
the Americas, in 1598.
" Adjacent to the
cathedral are the episcopate buildings, (circa 1600), formerly the
archbishops residence. Theyre now home to the Museum of
Contemporary Art.
" Between the
cathedral and the museum is an open-air native market, with
hundreds of stalls filled with traditional hammocks; hand-tooled
leather sandals and shoes; fine cotton, hand-embroidered white
dresses; mens guayabera dress shirts; and collections of
hand-painted, wooden Mayan dolls.
" On the north
side of the plaza is the neoclassical Governors Palace, built in
1898. The palace includes a second-floor Hall of History, residence
of 25 murals painted by local artist Fernando Pacheco, among the
most important artists in Mexico. His works illustrate the life and
history of the Mayan people.
" On the south
side of the square is the Casa de Montejo, built by Spanish
conquistador Francisco de Montejo, conqueror of the Yucatan
(1543-1549). Reflecting Spanish Renaissance art, both the building
and artwork within are preserved and intact.
" A horse-drawn
carriage trip to the Paseo de Montejo is well worth the outing. The
boulevard, Meridas answer to the Champs Elysees, is lined with
mansions from the golden age of the local sisal hemp
trade.
For a licensed
tour guide, call the Mexico Tourism Board office in Merida for
arrangements at (011) 52-999 924-9290. For general information, contact the Mexico Tourism Board
at (800) 446-3942 or visit www.visitmexico.com.
To contact
the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail to [email protected].