Mérida, Yucatán

Mérida(Spanish pronunciation:[ˈmeɾiða],Yucatec Maya:Joꞌ)is the capital of theMexican stateofYucatán, and the largest city in southeasternMexico. The city is also the seat of theeponymous municipality. It is located slightly inland from the northwest corner of theYucatán Peninsula, about 35 km (22 mi) inland from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. In 2020, it had a population of 921,770 while its metropolitan area, which also includes the cities ofKanasínandUmán, had a population of 1,316,090.
Mérida is also the cultural and financial capital of the Yucatán Peninsula. The city's rich cultural heritage is a product of thesyncretismof theMayaandSpanish culturesduring the colonial era. TheCathedral of Mérida, Yucatánwas built in the late 16th century with stones fromnearby Maya ruinsand is the oldest cathedral in the mainland Americas.The city has the third largest old town district on the continent.It was the first city to be namedAmerican Capital of Culture, and the only city that has received the title twice.
Mérida is among the safest cities of Mexico as well as in the Americas.In 2015, the city was certified as an International Safe Community by theKarolinska Instituteof Sweden for its high level of public security.Forbeshas ranked Mérida three times as one of the three best cities in Mexico to live, invest and do business.In 2022, theUN-Habitat's City Prosperity Index recognized Mérida as the city with the highest quality of life in Mexico.
Mérida was named afterMérida, Spainbecause the Maya ruins that the Spanishconquistadorsfound in the settlement ofTi'horeminded them of the Roman ruins ofAugusta Emerita. Over time, the city acquired the nickname "La Ciudad Blanca" (The White City).This nickname may be due to the white color of thelimestoneused to paint the façades of the city's colonial buildings. This hypothesis is reinforced by the fact that the city can be seen from outer space as a large whitish area in the middle of the immense green forest that covers the Yucatán Peninsula.Other cities in Hispanic America share the same nickname for this reason, likeArequipaandPopayan.Folktale says that the name go back to the founding of the city when the Spanish conquistadors – motivated by security reasons and given the persistent rebellion of theindigenous Maya people– decided to allow only white-skinned Europeans to live in the city. Old arches at the entrance to the city would have been built for this reason, and beyond these were the Indian communities.However, the first arches were not commissioned until 1690, almost 150 years after the city's foundation. The arch of San Juan and the one on 59th street marked the beginning of roads to Campeche and Izamal, respectively. Other arches served only decorative purposes, like the one Juan Quijano had erected in 1760 in front of his house at the intersection of 65th and 56th streets, which has since been demolished.Additionally, the Nahua indigenous troops who accompanied Montejo's troops in the conquest of Yucatán settled in the neighborhoods of San Cristóbal, Santiago, and San Román, where they enjoyed the privilege of exemption from taxes for their military assistance.
Mérida was founded in 1542 by the Spanishconquistadors, includingFrancisco de Montejo the YoungerandJuan de la Cámara, and named after the town ofMéridain Extremadura, Spain. It was built on the site of theMayacity ofTi'ho(/tʼχoʼ/), which was also called Ichkanzihóo or Ichcaanzihó (/iʃkan'siχo/; "City of Five Hills") in reference to itspyramids. Many of the carved stones of the ruins of ancient Ti'ho were used in the construction of the early Spanish buildings of Mérida. These stones are visible, for instance, in the walls of the main cathedral. From colonial times through the mid-19th century, Mérida was a walled city designed to protect thepeninsularesandcriollosfrom periodic revolts by the indigenous Maya people.
In the late 19th century, the area surrounding Mérida prospered from the cultivation ofhenequen, the fiber of which was used in the production ofropeandtwine, as well as for the production oflicor del henequén, a traditional Mexican alcoholic drink. By the beginning of the 20th century, manufacturing focused mainly on tobacco, molasses, rum, soap, and leather products.Korean immigrationto Mexico began in 1905 when more than a thousand people arrived in Yucatán from the city ofJemulpo. These first Korean immigrants settled around Mérida as workers in henequen plantations.
In August 1993,Pope John Paul IIvisited the city on his third trip to Mexico.The city has been host to two bilateral United States – Mexico conferences, the first in 1999 (Bill Clinton–Ernesto Zedillo) and the second in 2007 (George W. Bush–Felipe Calderón, which resulted in the creation of theMérida Initiative). Mérida hosted the VI Summit ofAssociation of Caribbean Statesin April 2014. In recent years, important sports competitions have been held in Mérida, such as theWorld Cupof theWorld Archery Federation. The city has also hosted important scientific meetings such as theInternational Cosmic Ray Conference.
Mérida is located in the northwest part of the state of Yucatán, which occupies the northern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula. To the north isProgresoand the Gulf of Mexico.ValladolidandTizimínare to the east,Celestúnis to the west, and the city ofCampecheis located to the southwest. There are many important Maya archae sites in the area, includingChichen Itza,Uxmal,Oxkintok,SayilandKabah.
The city is located near the center of theChicxulub Crater. It has a very flat topography and is only 9 metres (30 ft)above sea level. The land outside of Mérida is covered with smaller scrub trees and former henequen fields. Almost no surface water exists, but severalcenotes(sinkholesthat provide access to underground springs and rivers) are found in the area.
Mérida has acentro históricotypical of colonial Spanish cities. The street grid is based on odd-numbered streets running east–west and even-numbered streets running north–south, with Calles 60 and 61 bounding the "Plaza Grande" in the heart of the city. The more affluent neighborhoods are located to the north and the most densely populated areas are to the south.
Mérida features atropical savanna climate(Köppen:Aw).The city lies in thetrade windbelt close to theTropic of Cancer, with the prevailing wind from the east. Mérida's climate is hot and its humidity is moderate to high, depending on the time of year. The average annual high temperature is 33.5 °C (92.3 °F), ranging from 30.6 °C (87.1 °F) in December to 36.3 °C (97.3 °F) in May, but temperatures often rise above 38 °C (100.4 °F) in the afternoon during this period. Low temperatures range between 17.2 °C (63.0 °F) in January to 21.7 °C (71.1 °F) in May. It is most often a few degrees hotter in Mérida than in coastal areas due to its inland location and low elevation. The rainy season runs from June through October, associated with the Mexican monsoon which draws warm, moist air landward.Easterly wavesand tropical storms also affect the area during this season.
Mérida is the capital of the state of Yucatán. The offices of thegovernor of Yucatán, theCongress of Yucatán, and the Superior Court of Justice of Yucatán are all located within the city.
The municipal government is invested under the authority of a City Council (Ayuntamiento) which it is seated at the Municipal Palace of Merida, located in the historic center of the city. The City Council is presided by a municipal president or mayor, and an assembly conformed by a number of regents (regidores) and trustees (síndicos).Renán Barrera Conchabecame Mayor on September 1, 2018.
The Yucatán Peninsula, in particular the capital city Mérida, is in a prime coastal location which allows for economic growth. Mérida has been a popular location for investment.This, in turn, has allowed the Yucatán economy to grow at three times the rate of the national average.
In addition, theWorld Bank Group'sEase of Doing Business Indexranked Mérida fourth nationally in the category of ease of starting a business.
The city is home to important national and localresearch institutes, like the Yucatan Scientific Research Center (Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, CICY) of theNational Council of Science and Technology(Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Conacyt), a unit of theCenter for Research and Advanced Studiesof theNational Polytechnic Institute(Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, CINVESTAV Unidad Mérida), the Dr.Hideyo NoguchiRegional Research Center (Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi) of theAutonomous University of Yucatan(CIR-UADY), the Yucatán Science and Technology Park (Parque Científico Tecnológico de Yucatán, PCYTY) and the Peninsular Center for Humanities and Social Sciences (Centro Peninsular en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales, CEPHCIS) of theNational Autonomous University of Mexico(UNAM).
Mérida has served as theAmerican Capital of Culturein the years 2000 and 2017.
As the state and regional capital, Mérida is a cultural center, featuring multiple museums, art galleries, restaurants, movie theatres, and shops. Mérida retains an abundance of colonial buildings and is a cultural center with music and dancing playing an important part in day-to-day life. At the same time it is a modern city with a range of shopping malls, auto dealerships, hotels, restaurants, and leisure facilities. The famous avenuePaseo de Montejois lined with original sculpture. Each year, the MACAY Museum in Mérida mounts a new sculpture installation, featuring works from Mexico and one other chosen country. Each exhibit remains for 10 months of the year. In 2007, sculptures on Paseo de Montejo featured works by artists from Mexico and Japan.
Mérida and the state of Yucatán have traditionally been isolated from the rest of the country by geography, creating a unique culture. The conquistadors found the Maya culture to be incredibly resilient, and their attempts to eradicate Maya tradition, religion, and culture had only moderate success. The surviving remnants of the Maya culture can be seen every day, in speech, dress, and in both written and oral histories. It is especially apparent in holidays like Hanal Pixan, a Maya/CatholicDay of the Deadcelebration. It falls on November 1 and 2 (one day for adults, and one for children) and is commemorated by elaborate altars dedicated to dead relatives. It is a compromise between the two religions with crucifixes mingled with skull decorations and food sacrifices/offerings.Múkbil pollo(pronounced/'mykβil pʰoʎoˀ/) is the Maya tamal pie offered to the dead on All Saints' Day, traditionally accompanied by a cup of hot chocolate. Many Yucatecans enjoy eating this on and around the Day of the Dead. And, while complicated to make, they can be purchased and even shipped via air.  (Muk-billiterally means "to put in the ground" or to cook in apib, an underground oven).
For English speakers or would-be speakers, Mérida has the Mérida English Library,a lending library with an extensive collection of English books, videos, tapes, and children's books. The library is also the site for expatriate meetings, children's storytelling hours, and other cultural events.
Mérida is also home to theYucatán Symphony Orchestra, which plays regular seasons at the José Peón Contreras Theatre on Calle 60 and features classical music, jazz, and opera.
Yucatán food is its own unique style and is very different from what most people consider "Mexican" food. It includes influences from the local Maya cuisine, as well as Caribbean, Mexican, European and Middle Eastern foods. Tropical fruit, such as coconut, pineapple, plum, tamarind and mamey are often used in Yucatán cuisine.
There are many regional dishes. Some of them are:
Achioteis a popular spice in the area. It is derived from the hardannatto seedfound in the region. The whole seed is ground together with other spices and formed into a reddish seasoning paste, calledrecado rojo. The other ingredients in the paste include cinnamon, allspice berries, cloves,Mexican oregano, cumin seed, sea salt, mild black peppercorns, apple cider vinegar, and garlic.
Hot sauce in Mérida is usually made from the indigenous chiles in the area which include: Chile Xcatik, Chile Seco de Yucatán, and Chile Habanero.
The Spanish language spoken in the Yucatán is readily identifiable as different in comparison to the Spanish spoken all over the country, and even to non-native ears. It is heavily influenced by theYucatec Maya language, which is spoken by a third of the population of the State of Yucatán. The Mayan language is melodic, filled with ejective consonants (p', k', and t') and "sh" sounds (represented by the letter "x" in the Mayan language). Even though many people speak Mayan, there is much stigma associated with it. It can be seen that elders were associated with higher status with knowledge of the language, but the younger generation saw more negative attitudes with knowledge of the languageThis was also in direct correlation with the socioeconomic status and their overall placement in society. There is also the idea that one is not speaking in the "correct" manner of legitimate Mayan dialect, which also causes for more differences in the accent and overall language of the area.
Due to being enclosed by the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, and being somewhat isolated from the rest of Mexico, Yucatecan Spanish has also preserved many words that are no longer used in many other Spanish-speaking areas of the world. However, over the years with the improvement of transportation and technology with the presence of radio, internet, and TV, many elements of the culture and language of the rest of Mexico are now slowly but consistently permeating the culture.
Apart from the Mayan language, which is the mother-tongue of many Yucatecans, students now choose to learn a foreign language such as English, which is taught in most schools.
Modern Mérida has expanded far beyond its original city walls, but many oldSpanish colonial buildingsand several old city gates can still be seen in thecentro histórico, which is among the largest in the Americas. Many large and elaborate homes from the early 20th century still line the main avenue calledPaseo de Montejo. For example, "Las Casas Gemelas" (The Twin Houses) are two side-by-side French and Spanish style mansions completed in 1911 by Camilo and Ernesto Cámara Zavala. Owned by the Barbachano and Molina Méndez families, they are two of only a few houses that are still used as residences on Paseo Montejo from that era. During thePorfiriato, the Barbachano house held cultural events that hosted artists, poets, and writers. In the mid-1900s, the Barbachanos hosted aristocrats includingPrincess GraceandPrince Ranier, as well as first lady of the U.S.,Jacqueline Kennedy.
The historical center of Mérida is currently undergoing a renaissance, as people and businesses move into these old buildings and restore them.Many of these restored buildings now serve as office buildings for banks and insurance companies. Other important historic sites in the city include:
Several facilities can be found where to practice sports:
The city is home to theMérida Marathon, held each year since 1986.
City service is mostly provided by four local transportation companies: Unión de Camioneros de Yucatán (UCY), Alianza de Camioneros de Yucatán (ACY), Rápidos de Mérida, and Minis 2000. Bus transportation is at the same level or better than that of bigger cities likeGuadalajaraorMexico City. Climate-controlled buses and micro-buses (smaller in size) are not uncommon.
As of 2024 the privately owned city bus system is being replaced by a new municipal system called "Va y Ven".
Ie-Tram Yucatánis abus rapid transit(BRT) system opening in December 2023.
The main bus terminal (CAME) offers first-class (ADO) and luxury services (ADO PLATINO, ADO GL) to most southern Mexico cities outside Yucatán with a fleet consisting of Mercedes Benz and Volvo buses. Shorter intrastate routes are serviced by many smaller terminals around the city, mainly in downtown.
Several groups and unions offer taxi transportation: Frente Único de los Trabajadores del Volante (FUTV) (white taxis), Unión de Taxistas Independientes (UTI), and Radiotaxímetros de Yucatán, among others. Some of them offer metered service, but most work based on a flat rate depending on destination. Competition has made it of more common use than it was years ago.
Taxis can be either found at one of many predefined places around the city (Taxi de Sitio), waved down along the road, or called in by radio. Unlike the sophisticated RF counterparts in the US, a Civil Band radio is used and is equally effective. Usually a taxi will respond and arrive within 5 minutes.
Another type of taxi service is called "Colectivo". Colectivo taxis work like small buses on a predefined route and for a small fare. Usually accommodating 8 to 10 people.
Uber,DiDi, andinDrivealso offer services in Mérida.
Mérida (IATA: MID, ICAO: MMMD) is serviced byManuel Crescencio Rejón International Airportwith daily non-stop services to major cities in Mexico including Mexico City, Monterrey, Villahermosa, Cancún, Guadalajara, Tuxtla Gutierrez, and Toluca. The airport has international flights to Miami, Houston, La Havana and Toronto.  As of 2006more than 1 million passengers were using this airport every year, (1.3 in 2007).The airport is under ASUR administration.
Mérida was the hub of an extensivenarrow gauge railway networkthat operated in the states of Yucatán and Campeche beginning in 1902. This system was merged intoFerrocarriles Unidos del Surestein 1975, and later merged intoFerrocarriles Chiapas-Mayab. In 2016, The Secretary of Communications and Transportation revoked the concession.
Current passenger train service to Mérida is provided byTren Mayawhich runs fromPalenque, ChiapastoCancún, Quintana Roo, continuing on toPlaya del Carmen. It stops atTeya Mérida railway station, 8 km (5.0 mi) east of the city.
Main roads in and out of Mérida:
Mérida has many regional hospitals and medical centers. All of them offer full services for the city, and in case of the regional hospitals, for the whole Yucatán peninsula and neighboring states.
The city has one of the more prestigious medical faculties in Mexico (UADY). Proximity to American cities like Houston allow local doctors to crosstrain and practice in both countries making Mérida one of the best cities in Mexico in terms of health services availability.
Hospitals:
In 2000, the Mérida municipality had 244 preschool institutions, 395 elementary, 136 Jr. high school (2 years middle school, 1 high), 97 High Schools and 16 Universities/Higher Education schools. Mérida has consistently held the status of having the best performing public schools in Mexico since 1996. The public school system is regulated by the Secretariat of Public Instruction.Attendance is required for all students in the educational system from age 6 up to age 15.Once students reach high school, they are given the option of continuing their education or not; if they chose to do so they are given two tracks in which they can graduate.
Nevertheless, education in Merida has a variety of quality throughout the city. This mainly has to do with the different social strata and where they reside. Mayan indigenous population are at the bottom of the spectrum and this can be represented in the type of education that the children are receiving. Upper class is usually located in the north, as it is less populated and has higher living costs.For the most part, private schools are located in the northern part of the city. The only students who attend these schools are those of high class and of non-Maya descent.A distressing statistic of how this affects the indigenous communities can be noted, "In Yucatan only 8.9 % of the Mayans have achieved junior high and solely the 6.6% have studied beyond that point. The 83.4% of the Mayans 15 years old and older dropped out of school before finishing junior high."
Many laws have been set in place to avoid discrimination between the Spanish speakers and the Mayan speakers as the "Law says that it is a duty of the Mexican State to guarantee – guarantee, not just try, not just attempt – that the indigenous population has access to the obligatory education, bilingual and intercultural in their methods and contents."Despite this having been set into law, there is no bilingual or cultural accepting program after elementary school.The system for indigenous education only serves about one third of the Mayan speaking population of the area.Many Mayachildren are forced to learn Spanish and cease using their native tongue, which may be challenging for them to do. This in turn causes many of the students to feel that learning at school is not their strong suit and may even end up dropping out early in their education.
There are several state institutions offering higher education:
Among several private institutions:
Mérida has several national research centers. Among them