Mérida — The White City

Mérida is the capital of Yucatán and one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Mexico. The "Ciudad Blanca" (White City — named after its light limestone houses) was founded in 1542 on the ruins of the Maya city T'ho and combines colonial heritage with vibrant Maya culture.

Sights

• Plaza Grande (Plaza de la Independencia): The heart of the city. Cathedral (oldest on the American mainland, 1598), Casa de Montejo (conquistador palace with gruesome Maya scenes on the facade), Governor's Palace with murals by Fernando Castro Pacheco.
• Paseo de Montejo: The "Champs-Élysées" of Mérida. Boulevard with magnificent villas (Palacios) of the 19th-century henequen barons. The Museo de la Ciudad and the Museo de Antropología are located here.
• Mercado Lucas de Gálvez: The huge, chaotic city market. Everything is available here: Cochinita Pibil, Papadzules, Relleno Negro, Guayaberas (shirts), hammocks from Mérida (the best in Mexico!).
• Gran Museo del Mundo Maya: Modern museum on Maya culture with over 1,100 exhibits. Perfect introduction before visiting archaeological sites. 150 MXN.

Culinary Delights

Mérida has its own cuisine (Cocina Yucateca), which is distinctly different from the rest of Mexico — influenced by Maya traditions, the Caribbean, and even Lebanese cuisine (Kibis!):

• Cochinita Pibil: Slow-cooked pork in achiote paste, wrapped in banana leaves. THE dish of Yucatán.
• Papadzules: Tortillas filled with egg, covered with pumpkin seed sauce and tomato sauce.
• Sopa de Lima: Soup with lime, chicken, and crispy tortilla strips.
• Poc Chuc: Grilled pork with onions and sour orange.