The date and the founder
Mérida's city government dates the founding to January 6, 1542, by Francisco de Montejo the Younger. The national monuments catalog of Mexico's INAH places the founding assembly in today's Plaza Grande.
A city on top of another
The new city was built on the Maya center of T'Hó. Its name is linked to Mérida in Extremadura, Spain. The main square organized the Spanish core, and the city went on to become capital of the province of Yucatán.
How the square was laid out
The buildings of power were arranged around the square, a layout you can still see:
- East: the Cathedral of San Ildefonso.
- South: the Casa de Montejo.
- North: the Government Palace, on the site of the old Casas Reales.
- West: City Hall (Palacio Municipal).
The anniversary today
Every January 6, Mérida celebrates its founding. The program changes yearly; if you're in town on the date, check the current municipal calendar.
Visiting the founding site
Close by, on Calle 61 between 62 and 64, is Mary Tours' office, the starting point for its excursions around Yucatán and Quintana Roo. Standing in the middle of the Plaza Grande and turning slowly is the best history lesson: each side has a building from a different chapter of the city's story. See the booking section to find a trip that fits your dates.
| Side | Building |
|---|---|
| East | Cathedral of San Ildefonso |
| South | Casa de Montejo |
| North | Government Palace |
| West | City Hall |
Fun facts
- The Plaza Grande has been Mérida's heart since the day it was founded.
- Each side of the square has a building from a different era.
- Mérida celebrates its anniversary on Epiphany, January 6.
Related tours
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Four stops in one day, and none of them rushed
from $1,200 MXN per person
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8:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Izamal. The guide uses the drive to set up what comes next.
- 9:00 AM San Antonio de Padua Convent — The story of the 16th-century Franciscan convent told in its atrium, then free time to walk the yellow town.
- 11:15 AM Chichén Itzá — Guided walk through the Temple of Kukulkán, the Sacred Cenote, the Ball Court, the Tzompantli and the Jaguars and Eagles platform.
- 1:45 PM Regional lunch in Kaua — Buffet of Yucatecan dishes: cochinita, relleno negro, lime soup and meat-free options.
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- 11:30 AM Chaksikín cenote — Semi-open. You go down between limestone walls painted with Maya-themed murals.
- 12:00 PM Xooch cenote — Semi-open, with a shaft of light that falls straight onto the water mid-morning.
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Celestún and the pink flamingos
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8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour and a half west, out to the port.
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Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 17 h
Bacalar, the lagoon of seven colours
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5:00 AM – 10:00 PM · daily
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- 7:30 AM Drive to Bacalar — Two and a half hours more, now crossing into Quintana Roo.
- 10:15 AM Boat trip on the lagoon — Pirates’ Channel, Cenote Negro, Cenote Esmeralda and Bird Island, with an explanation of the stromatolites and the ecosystem.
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- 1:30 PM Bacalar magic town — Three and a half hours free: the San Felipe fort, the square, the piers, the cafés and the crafts.
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Frequently asked questions
When was Mérida founded?
On January 6, 1542.
Where was it founded?
In today's Plaza Grande, on the Maya center of T'Hó.
Who founded Mérida?
Francisco de Montejo the Younger.
When is Mérida's anniversary?
Every January 6.
