|
|
|
|
|
Merida History |
| Home >> Mexico Destinations >> Merida >> Merida History |
|
| Mérida was founded in 1542 by Francisco De Montejo, a Spanish Conquistador known as "El Adelantado." It was built over the Maya city of Ti'ho, also known as Ichcaanzihó or land of the great “sihoes” which had existed for centuries earlier. Some carved Maya stones from ancient Ti'ho are still visibly reused in some Spanish Colonial buildings. Some Maya still use the ancient name Ti'ho when referring to Mérida. Much of Mérida's architecture from the Colonial period, through the 18th century and 19th century is evident in the central portion of the city. From colonial times through the mid 19th century Mérida was a walled city to protect the Spanish and Ladino 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). A legacy of those times are the several European-style houses that still survive in the city, especially on the north side, close to Colón, Montejo and Pérez Ponce avenues. After the decline of the henequén industry, this area of Merida suffered, and it is now simply historic.
It has been known as the “Paris of the West” because of the many products once imported from France by Merida’s wealthy citizens, and because it was a center of culture and government. At one time is was also known as the “White City”. Theories abound about why it was named this: from its tradition of people dressed in white to its white stone buildings built from native white limestone. Another theory holds that the title 'White City' referred to the city's colonial roots, when slaves and anyone 'non-white' was denied entry to the city; hence the term 'white city', meaning 'the city of the whites' a term coined by revolutionary Mayan indians during the violent and bloody Guerra de Castas or Caste Wars. Merida is the center of many Mayan ruins, colonial cities and nature attractions. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
