The City of Mérida was founded by the Spanish conquistadors in the 1540s, on top of a centuries-old Maya city called T'ho.
Mérida was named after Mérida, Spain — the reason is rumored to be because the Maya ruins found in T'ho reminded the conquistadors of the Roman ruins of Augusta Emerita.
Over time, the city acquired the nickname "La Ciudad Blanca" (The White City).
This may be due to the white color of the limestone used to paint the façades of the city's colonial buildings, or, according to folklore, it refers to the founding Spanish settlers allowing only white-skinned Europeans to live within the city.
The city has the third-largest old town district (Centro Mérida) on the continent.
The Cathedral of Mérida, Yucatán, built in the late 16th century with stones from nearby Maya ruins, is the oldest cathedral in the mainland Americas.
Mérida boasts excellent museums, a vibrant street life, and a wealth of historic colonial-era architecture, including the beautiful Cathedral San Ildefonso.
The Plaza Grande of Mérida, also known as Independence Square, is the historical, social, and cultural heart of the capital of Yucatán — second in size only to the Zócalo in Mexico City.
Rich in colonial history and known for its narrow streets, plazas, and museums, Mérida is considered the oldest city in North America, with a history dating back to Mayan civilization times.
Besides the Centro Histórico, Mérida offers wonderful neighborhoods, shopping malls, parks, and a plethora of restaurants in its newer sections.
Within a 45-minute drive, you'll find the port town of Progreso sitting on the Gulf of Mexico, along with many beautiful beachside villages, making this the perfect location to start your dreams.
