Merida has a fascinating history.

First it was a Mayan city, T'Ho. It was under the protection and guidance of Ah Chun Caan Mayan, the teaching god.

In 1542, Francisco de Montejo founded the city of Merida adjacent to the ruins of the main pyramid of T'Ho. A cathedra for San Ildefonso was built using the worked stones found there around 1561, making it the oldest cathedral in the New World. The beginnings of a city were established around the central plaza, the Zocalo, including state and municipal buildings and Montejo's personal residence, now a bank.

Yucatan has always resisted the notion of its Mexican nature. In fact, in the 1800's, the local government sent an ambassador to the United States asking for statehood. They were soundly rebuffed. Today, Yucatecans still prefer to be known as Yucatecos, definitely NOT Mexicans. They consider Mexico to be a foreign coountry beyond the mountains of Chiapas filled with fast living rude people.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Yucatan experienced a renaissance due to the haciendas producing "Green Gold" or henequen. Almost all rope was made from this plant fiber and Yucatan had a virtual monopoly on it. The henequeneros grew fabulously rich on the backs of their Mayan laborers. In fact, Yucatan still has the highest percentage of millionaires in Mexico today.

Today Merida is a peaceful, graceful city, boasting a wide boulevard bordered by elegant mansions in the French style. It istoday known as the White City because of its clean, white stucco facades... Or perhaps because of its link to a cardinal direction (north) in the Mayan religion.