Valladolid, Yucatán

Valladolid(Spanish:[baʝaðoˈlið];SakiʼinMaya) is a city located in theeastern regionof theMexican stateofYucatán. It is the seat ofValladolid Municipality. As of the 2020 census the population of the city was 56,494 inhabitants (the third-largest community in the state afterKanasín), and that of the municipality was 85,460. Valladolid is located approximately 170 km (105 mi) east of the state capitalMérida, 40 km (25 mi) east ofChichén Itzá, and 150 km (93 mi) west ofCancún.
On August 30, 2012, Valladolid became part of thePueblo Mágicopromotional initiative led by the federalSecretariat of Tourism.
Named afterValladolid, at the time the capital ofSpain. Valladolid in Yucatán was established by SpanishConquistadorFrancisco de Montejo's nephew on May 27, 1543, at some distance from the current town, at alagooncalled Chouac-Ha in the municipality ofTizimín. Early Spanish settlers complained about themosquitosand humidity at the original location, and petitioned to have the city moved further inland. On March 24, 1545, Valladolid was relocated to its current location, built atop aMayatown calledZacíorZací-Val, whose buildings were dismantled to reuse the stones to build the Spanish colonial town. The following year theMaya peoplerevolted, but the rebellion was suppressed with the support of additional Spanish troops fromMérida.
In 1705 there was another revolt by local Maya; the rebels killed a number of town officials who had taken refuge in the cathedral. When the revolt was suppressed, the cathedral was considered irreparably profaned, and was demolished. A new cathedral was built the following year that still exists; it was oriented to face north unlike most other Colonial churches in Yucatán which face east.
Valladolid had a population of 15,000 in 1840. In January 1847, the native Mayas rioted, killing some eighty whites and sacking their houses. After a Maya noble was shot by firing squad, the riot became a general uprising. It was led byJacinto Pat,batabof Tihosuco and by Cecilio Chi of nearby Ichmul.The city and the surrounding region was the scene of intense battle duringYucatán's Caste War, and the Ladino forces were compelled to abandon Valladolid on March 14, 1848; with half being killed by ambush before they reached Mérida. The city was sacked by the Maya rebels but was recaptured later in the war.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, Valladolid was the third largest and most important city of theYucatán Peninsula, (after Mérida andCampeche). It had a sizable well-to-doCriollopopulation, with a number of old Spanish style mansions in the old city. Valladolid was widely known by its nicknameThe Sultana of the East.
Valladolid is a popular city in which to explore the history and culture of the Yucatán Peninsula. Notable sights include the colonial-era ex-conventand churchConvent of San Bernardino de Siena(named after saintBernardino of Siena), which was built by Franciscan missionaries between 1552 and 1560 in the Sisal neighbourhood. In downtown Valladolid is the Cathedral of San Servacio (named afterSaint Servatius), located in the main square of the city. The center of the city's grid-like road structure features a plaza — Parque Principal Francisco Cantón Rosado — surrounded by restaurants and shops and filled with "sillas tú y yo" common to the Yucatán peninsula. Located close to the heart of the city is theCenote Zací, a landscaped freshwatercenoteor underground sinkhole in which visitors can explore and swim. There is also a restaurant on the premises of the Cenote Zací and artisans sellinghandcrafts. Valladolid is a popular base for visiting nearby major Maya ruins such asChichén ItzáandEkʼ Balam, as well asCenote Ik Kil. Many principal sites are marked with bilingual signage to make them more hospitable for English-speaking tourists.
The typical dish of the region isLomitos de Valladolidwhich is a pork dish in fresh tomato sauce;Cochinita pibilmeat marinated inachiote, and spices, wrapped inbanana leafand barbecued or baked in a pit;lechon al horno,bistek de cazuela,relleno negrowhich is turkey cooked with a paste of charred chillies and vegetables with bits of hard-boiled eggs,frijol con puercoand chicken inescabeche.  Valladolid is also known for itslonganizawhich are a type of pork-based salami sausage with traditional condiments. Local traditional candies are based on materials from the region such as honey, coconut, corn and others. Traditional ice cream is also very popular. The most common flavours are coconut, corn and fruits of the region asguanabana,mamey sapoteand others.
The climate in the Yucatán Peninsula is hot and dry. There is also tropical rain with hot and predominate trade winds most times of the year. Valladolid features a tropical wet and dry climate. The city lies in the trade wind belt close to the Tropic of Cancer, with the prevailing wind from the east. Valladolid's climate is hot and humidity is moderate to high, depending on the time of year. The average annual high temperature is 33 °C (91 °F), ranging from 28 °C (82 °F) in January to 36 °C (97 °F) in May, but temperatures often rise above 38 °C (100 °F) in the afternoon in this time. Low temperatures range between 18 °C (64 °F) in January to 23 °C (73 °F) in May and June. It is most often a few degrees hotter in Valladolid than 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 waves and tropical storms also affect the area during this season.
Valladolid has a grid layout for streets and is connected to surrounding areas by federal highways.Highway 180and itstolled variantboth traverse the city and connect it toCancúnas well as archaeological sites. AnAutobuses de Orientebus terminal situated in the heart of the city also connects Valladolid to other parts of the Yucatán Peninsula.