Izamal

About Izamal

Izamal is a small colonial town in central Yucatán, often called the Yellow City because nearly every building in its center is painted the same warm golden hue. Long before the Spanish arrived it was an important Maya religious center, and remnants of its large pyramids still stand among the streets. The layering of Maya and colonial history is what gives the town its character, and it is recognized as one of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos.

At the heart of town sits the Convento de San Antonio de Padua, a Franciscan monastery built in the sixteenth century on top of a Maya platform. Its vast arcaded atrium is one of the largest of its kind, and the church houses a revered image of Our Lady of Izamal, the patroness of Yucatán. Around the convent, the Centro Cultural and Palacio Municipal frame the main plazas, and Parque Zamná offers shade. A few blocks away, visitors climb the broad pyramid of Kinich Kakmo for wide views over the flat landscape, and the smaller Itzamatul and Chaltún Há sites are within walking distance. Horse-drawn calesas circle the streets, and the municipal market sells food and local handicrafts.

Izamal moves at an unhurried pace and suits travelers interested in architecture and religious history. It is a common day trip from Mérida, though evenings in the quiet, lamplit streets reward an overnight stay.