Attractions in Merida Mexico

Merida is a colonial destination with a rich colonial past. You can spend long days sightseeing at the museums, theaters, and parks, where there are all sorts of performances, from regional folk dances to the most avant-garde shows.

Once in the downtown area, you can easily walk to different places, such as the picturesque Santa Lucia Park, located just across the street from a church of the same name. You can listen to local music, called Trova Yucateca, enjoy romantic folk music or attend a book fair, among many other events held here throughout the week.

Moreover, you can sightsee around the downtown area by bus, on a guided tour or by horse-drawn carriage, reminiscent of old days, when it was the only way to move about the city.

The erection of the Cathedral of Merida, located on the Plaza Mayor, (Main Square), started in 1561 and lasted until 1598. It is an impressive edifice, bearing different architectural features. The facade for instance, is Renaissance style, the towers and interiors are of Moorish influence and the altarpiece is distinctively Baroque style. This cathedral is the oldest one in the Americas.

A few steps from the Cathedral are other interesting buildings, such as the Ateneo Museum of Modern Art of Yucatan, the Palace of Montejo and the Town Hall. Take your time sightseeing, since these particular sights are all definitely worth visiting.

Merida on Sundays

From early Sunday morning to dawn the next day, all the streets around Main Square remain closed to cars so that pedestrians, cyclists and carriages can move about easily. This is the traditional ''Merida on Sundays''. It is a festival with many stands for food, handcrafts and books. The parks become gathering places for artists, painters, photographers and sculptors, whose work is displayed and put on sale. You can see skillful artists drawing interested passersby, whose faces are portrayed in funny caricatures.

Centenario Park

Centenario Park is an obligatory visit while in Merida and a suitable place for a family outing. It features a zoo, a skating rink, a small lake and a train that takes you on a ride around the park and through a tunnel.

Come and have fun in Merida, Yucatan!

Las Americas Park

This park extends for 4 blocks and it's divided into four sections: an amphitheater, a large square (where you can watch the most varied shows and performances), a playground and a public library. You can also rent rollerblades and bicycles to ride around the park.

Paseo de Montejo

Merida's main avenue, Paseo de Montejo, bears evidence of its Henequen Golden Age in its eloquent architecture. This period spurred an economic boom derived from the henequen industry of the late 18th century. Paseo de Montejo resembles the Champs Elysees in Paris because it was actually built following the original plans made by the French. Many of the Neo-classic mansions on the avenue are still owned by Merida's elite. Most, however, are used as museums, offices, restaurants, bars and shops.

Theaters

Merida is rich in culture and has several theaters, where there are all sorts of stage plays, from experimental college theater plays to folk comedy performances. The Peon Contreras Theater, with its charming Neo-classic French architectural design, features a varied and interesting calendar of performances, which is definitely worth taking a look at so make the time to see a performance during your stay in Merida. The Daniel Anaya Theater, which dates back to the 17th century, has since entertained Meridians with wonderful performances. There is also the art deco style Merida Theater, which was recently remodeled and now offers an array of cultural events.

Museums

History comes to life in Merida. Visitors can see and feel its rich historical past, not only because of the government's efforts to preserve it but because it takes root in the large Indian and mestizo population (people of European and Native American ancestry), whose strong customs and traditions, art and language are still present in everyday life.

An example of this are the Popular Art Museum and the Museum of the City, where you can see Mayan and Spanish artifacts from the Independence, the War of Castes and subsequent periods in history, depicting important events that have taken place in the region. At the MACAY Museum, which stands for Ateneo Museum of Modern Art of Yucatan, you can see excellent permanent exhibits of Yucatecan art, art workshops and several other cultural events.

Olimpo Cultural Complex of Merida

This is also an art complex, where there are different temporary exhibits of paintings, photographs, as well as concerts, movies, a library and a planetarium. In the planetarium, visitors can go on virtual journeys of the cosmos, or into the human body via state-of-the-art audio and video systems.