Izamal is a jewel of a colonial city, with almost all the buildings painted an egg-yolk yellow. Cobblestone streets and colonial lampposts complete the scenery. Clean, peaceful, and quaint, this is a great town to stroll through.
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Mayan pyramids, colonial-style buildings, parks and plazas, horses and buggies, and lots of people-watching makes for an interesting holiday. Izamal is a monument of color, history, and pride that can be felt in its streets and buildings. Art, music, and gastronomy are all around you!
Lonely Planet Writes:
“In ancient times Izamal was a center for the worship of the supreme Maya god, Itzamná, and the sun god, Kinich-Kakmó. A dozen temple pyramids were devoted to these or other gods. No doubt these bold expressions of Maya religiosity are why the Spanish colonists chose Izamal as the site for an enormous and impressive Franciscan monastery, which still stands at the heart of this town, located about 70km east of Mérida. It’s easily explored on foot, and horse-drawn carriages add to the city’s charm.”
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Mayan pyramids, colonial-style buildings, parks and plazas, horses and buggies, and lots of people-watching makes for an interesting holiday. Izamal is a monument of color, history, and pride that can be felt in its streets and buildings. Art, music, and gastronomy are all around you!
Lonely Planet Writes:
“In ancient times Izamal was a center for the worship of the supreme Maya god, Itzamná, and the sun god, Kinich-Kakmó. A dozen temple pyramids were devoted to these or other gods. No doubt these bold expressions of Maya religiosity are why the Spanish colonists chose Izamal as the site for an enormous and impressive Franciscan monastery, which still stands at the heart of this town, located about 70km east of Mérida. It’s easily explored on foot, and horse-drawn carriages add to the city’s charm.”
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Oldest City in the Yucatán
Also called the “City of Hills” and located right in the middle of the Yucatán Peninsula, Izamal may be the oldest city in the Yucatán. It was conquered by the Spaniards, and the monks in their eagerness to convert the Indians to Catholicism gave the city its religious distinction, shown in the Franciscan convent. These days, no one needs to walk or ride on a horse anymore. The brand-new Tren Maya (Maya Train) stops in Izamal, Yucatán, Mexico. The Izamal station is the end of Section 3 of the Tren Maya.
More Magical Towns in Mexico:
Mexico has 35 towns that are considered magical and one of them is Izamal in the Yucatán… just 45 minutes from Merida, and ca. 3 hours from Cancun. Get more info here:
Also called the “City of Hills” and located right in the middle of the Yucatán Peninsula, Izamal may be the oldest city in the Yucatán. It was conquered by the Spaniards, and the monks in their eagerness to convert the Indians to Catholicism gave the city its religious distinction, shown in the Franciscan convent. These days, no one needs to walk or ride on a horse anymore. The brand-new Tren Maya (Maya Train) stops in Izamal, Yucatán, Mexico. The Izamal station is the end of Section 3 of the Tren Maya.
Why Yellow for Izamal?
First, it is a color that when combined with lime keeps away the mosquitoes that could carry diseases.
The second, is that according to the tourist version, the yellow color is taken as identification with the Vatican for using the same tones, this was due to the visit of Pope John Paul II in August 1993 when he visited Mexico, who made a mass and crowned the image of the virgin of Izamal.
And finally, the third version says that yellow is a color that the Mayas considered sacred because of the relationship it has with corn, so that is why they decided to use this color.
More Magical Towns in Mexico:
Mexico has 35 towns that are considered magical and one of them is Izamal in the Yucatán… just 45 minutes from Merida, and ca. 3 hours from Cancun. Get more info here:
http://www.visitmexico.com/en/magicaltowns/south-region/izamal
These are the other Mexican magical towns:
Huasca de Ocampo
Real de Catorce
San Luis Potosí
Tepoztlán, Morelos
Taxco, Guerrero
Tepotzotlán, Estado de México
Tapalpa, Jalisco
Comala, Colima
Pátzcuaro, Michoacán
Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato
San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Cuetzalan, Puebla,
Tequila, Jalisco
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas
Real del Monte, Hidalgo
Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila
Valle de Bravo, Estado de México
Mazamitla, Jalisco
Alamos, Sonora
Tlalpujahua, Michoacán
Cosalá, Sinaloa
Bernal, Querétaro
Coatepec, Veracruz
Papantla, Veracruz
Realde Asientos, Aguascalientes
Cuitzeo, Michoacán
Santiago, Nuevo León
Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
Bacalar, Quintana Roo
Jerez de García Salinas, Zacatecas
Huamantla, Tlaxcala
Mier, Tamaulipas
Creel, Chihuahua
Capulalpam de Mendez, Oaxaca
El Fuerte, Sinaloa
How to Get There:
It’s easy to go by car. Take the Cuota road toward Cancún, and exit at km. 48 towards Izamal. The trip takes about 45 minutes. Or go by bus, the station is at Calle 67 between 50 and 52, with departures every hour. The cost of the ticket is 42 pesos one way or $84 pesos round trip. Also, you can take a Van in Calle 65 between 52 and 54.
Read more about Izamal:
http://theplayatimes.com/2015/03/20/izamal-chichen-itza/
These are the other Mexican magical towns:
Huasca de Ocampo
Real de Catorce
San Luis Potosí
Tepoztlán, Morelos
Taxco, Guerrero
Tepotzotlán, Estado de México
Tapalpa, Jalisco
Comala, Colima
Pátzcuaro, Michoacán
Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato
San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Cuetzalan, Puebla,
Tequila, Jalisco
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas
Real del Monte, Hidalgo
Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila
Valle de Bravo, Estado de México
Mazamitla, Jalisco
Alamos, Sonora
Tlalpujahua, Michoacán
Cosalá, Sinaloa
Bernal, Querétaro
Coatepec, Veracruz
Papantla, Veracruz
Realde Asientos, Aguascalientes
Cuitzeo, Michoacán
Santiago, Nuevo León
Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
Bacalar, Quintana Roo
Jerez de García Salinas, Zacatecas
Huamantla, Tlaxcala
Mier, Tamaulipas
Creel, Chihuahua
Capulalpam de Mendez, Oaxaca
El Fuerte, Sinaloa
How to Get There:
It’s easy to go by car. Take the Cuota road toward Cancún, and exit at km. 48 towards Izamal. The trip takes about 45 minutes. Or go by bus, the station is at Calle 67 between 50 and 52, with departures every hour. The cost of the ticket is 42 pesos one way or $84 pesos round trip. Also, you can take a Van in Calle 65 between 52 and 54.
Read more about Izamal:
http://theplayatimes.com/2015/03/20/izamal-chichen-itza/
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