Merida

Merida was built on the site of the Maya city of T’ho (also known as Ichcaanzihó 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 Mérida 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 Mérida, 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 intended to protect the Peninsular 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 Mérida had more millionaires than any other city in the world.

The result of the concentration of wealth can still be seen today in Mérida. 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. Mérida has the one of the largest centro historico districts of any city in the Americas (surpassed by Mexico City and Havana, Cuba). Large and small colonial homes line the city streets to this day, in various states of disrepair and renovation; the historical center of Mérida is currently undergoing a minor renaissance as more and more people are moving into the old buildings and reviving their former glory.