Merida Tour
Merida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about 35 km (22 miles) from the Gulf of Mexico coast. The city is also the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name which surrounds it. In the census of 2005 the population of the city was 734,153, ranking 13th among the most populous Mexican cities. The population of the municipality was 781,146. The municipality's area is 858.41 km² (331.43 sq mi). The metropolitan area includes the municipalities of Mérida, Umán and Kanasín and had a population of 886,188 in the same 2005.
Merida was founded in 1542 by Francisco de Montejo, a Spanish Conquistador known as "El Adelantado." It was built on the site of the Maya city of T'ho (also known as Ichcaanziho or "city of the five hills", referring to five pyramids) which had been a center of Mayan culture and activity for centuries. Because of this, many historians consider Merida the oldest continually-occupied city in the Americas.
Many carved Maya stones from ancient T'ho were used to build the Spanish Colonial buildings that are plentiful in downtown Merida, and are visible, for instance, in the walls of the main Cathedral.
Much of Mérida's architecture from the Colonial period, through the 18th century and 19th century is still standing in the centro historico of the city. From colonial times through the mid 19th century Mérida was a walled city to protect the Peninsulare and Criollo residents from periodic revolts by the indigenous Maya. Several of the old Spanish city gates survive, but modern Mérida has expanded well beyond the old city walls. Late in the 19th century and the early 20th Century, the area surrounding Mérida prospered from the production of henequén (known as sisal in English, because it was exported from the port of Sisal, which for most of the 19th century was the most important port in the state). At one time, around the turn of the 20th Century, it is said that Merida had more millionaires than any other city in the world.
The result of the concentration of wealth can still be seen today in Merida. Many large and elaborate homes still line the main avenue of Paseo de Montejo, though few are occupied today by individual families. Now, those homes have been restored and serve as office buildings for banks and insurance companies. Merida has the second largest centro historico of any city in the Americas, surpassed only by Mexico City. Large and small colonial homes line the city streets to this day, in various states of disrepair and renovation; the historical center of Merida is currently undergoing a minor renaissance as more and more people are moving into the old buildings and reviving their former glory.
In June 2007, Merida moved its city museum to the renovated Post Office building next to the downtown market. The Museum of the City of Merida houses important artifacts from the city's history, as well as an art gallery.
