Merida

About

Merida was founded by the Spanish conquistador Francisco de Montejo y León in 1542 on the site of the Mayan city of T'hó. Stones from the centuries-old Mayan city were quarried to build the Spanish Colonial buildings - the cathedral, for instance, was built using stones from temple of Yajam Cumu. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Merida flourished thanks to its agave industry, and at one point was said to be home to more millionaires than any other city. This wealth is preserved by the Beaux Arts manors lining the Pasejo Montejo. With the third largest historic center in the Americas, there are innumerable cobbled side-streets where you can wander among charming colonial-era homes in various states of disrepair. With the largest indigenous population of any city in Mexico, it’s well worth exploring the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Lucas de Galvez market, or head to the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya to learn more about Mayan culture.