You’re sure to stumble across the pretty Parque de la Mejorada while out exploring Mérida’s historic district. Learn about local history from the plaza’s monument and check out the colonial-era buildings that surround it.
Make your way to the centre of the plaza to the monument of the Niños Heroes. This edifice features the sculpture of an eagle and six bronze figures that represent the teenage cadets who are reported to have sacrificed their lives in the 1847 battle of Chapultepec against invading U.S forces.
Take a seat anywhere in the square and you’ll have a view of the fascinating architecture on all sides. Look south of the square and you’ll see the Churchof laMejorada standing proudly. This stone building was completed by the Franciscans in 1640 and is adjacent to an old convent. The church passed from Franciscan hands in the 19th century and then had a colourful history as a hospital, women’s prison and soldiers’ barracks.
Visit the lovely Popular Art Museum located in a charming yellow-and-white building on the northwest corner of the square. See the museum’s collection of traditional crafts from some of Mexico’s finest master artisans. The building itself dates from the early 1900s and is an attraction in itself.
Learn about the importance of this site in railway history. The first sleeper rails in Yucatan were laid in 1870 right where the plaza now lies. Head to the railroad museum nearby to explore more of the region’s locomotive past.
Dine in style at one of Mérida’s best-known restaurants, Los Almendros. You’ll find it conveniently located on the western side of the square in yet another colonial-era house. This restaurant has specialized in traditional Yucatán food for over 50 years. Try tasty dishes such as poc-chuc de cerdo (pork in a citrus marinade) and mucbil pollo (chicken tamales).
Search out Parque de La Mejorada to see a piece of Mérida’s history and access some of the best attractions in the city.
