Izamal

Schedule

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San Antonio de Padua Convent

Days: Monday to Sunday.
Schedule: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Light and sound visit days: Tuesday, Thursday,Friday and Saturday
Light and sound schedule: On summer 8:30pm and on winter 7:30pm
Cost: $ 54.00 pesos

Information

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Located right in the center of the peninsula, 72 km to the east of Merida. Izamal is called the City of the Three Cultures, because in it three historical periods coexist: its pyramids looking at the sky in the houses’ patios, witnesses of the Mayas greatness; its convent, with a charm originating from the silence of the majestic walls that carry forever the mark of the Spanish influence; its streets, buildings, small squares, houses and churches, all in a harmonious visual rhythm with a single color: yellow.

Everything as a whole marks the current century of this Magical Mexican Town, where time has stopped, captivated by the greatness of its past and the pride of its people.

Its history, since it was founded until today, is linked to a strong religious tradition, since this site was once an enormous Mayan ceremonial center. Founded by the Itzaés, it owes its name to a character of mythical origin and singular wisdom, assumed as an instructor, teacher and priest of the Mayas named itzamná or zamná, which means “dew that descends from the sky”.

The most important and traditional celebration is the one of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, from the 7th to the 13th of December approximately; the Mariana Serenade takes place in the atrium of the church; with local artists and around 4.000 spectators.

Izamal culture and crafts center

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Exhibitions of artisan work of the great masters of popular art. It has a cafeteria and a terrace or you can relax in the museum’s inner chamber while you enjoy the works of art. It is located in front of the central plaza.

Kinich Kakmó pyriamid

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It has the largest plinth with a base of 4 hectares and 34 meters in his highest part. Buggy tours leave from the central plaza. It can be visited every day, from 8:00 to 17:00 hours.

San Antonio de Padua convent

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With the greatest atrium in the world after San Peter in the Vatican, it is a colonial masterpiece, reflecting the live tradition of a mixture of cultures. It has a museum in its inner part and an praying altar. Enjoy the magnificent spectacle of the light and sound show every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, starting at 20:30 hours.

Hotels: 8 establishments.
Rooms: more than 90 rooms.
For more information visit: www.izamal.travel

History

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First Magical Town of Mexico, geographically it is located at the center of the Yucatan Peninsula. Its history, from its foundation to the present, is bonded to a strong religious tradition; this is because this site was once an enormous Mayan ceremonial center. Founded by the Itzáes, it receives his name due to a character of mythical origin and singular wisdom, assumed like instructor, teacher and Mayan priest called: Itzamná or Zamná that means “Dew that descends from the sky”.

This place also it is known as “City of Hills”, recalling the covered pyramids that were there, as well as “the City of the Three Cultures” resembling the 3 ethnic groups that occupied the city in its pre-Hispanic past, the colonial period and the present time.

Izamal, that during centuries was place of peregrination of the Mayan town that arrived by “sacbeoob” or white-stone ways that united the smaller cities to the main metropolis of the Mayan World, was one of the most important cities of the mayan culture, during the pre-Hispanic period, from 850 to 1.000 years a.C; also is considered one of oldest, even more than Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, his first establishments go back to 3rd century a.C.

In the postclassic period tolteca had a great importance as Mayan-Toltec city, being left at the same time as the other cities, reason why at the arrival of the Spaniards, the place practically deserted and belonged to the indigenous group known as the cocomes.

It was an important ceremonial center of the region where seven important Mayan pyramids were constructed, reason why the Spaniards respected some temples, although they used stones of the old buildings to give life to the new constructions, as in the case of the majestic convent of San Antonio de Padua, founded by the Franciscan father Fray Diego de the Landa and missionaries on 1549.
Possessing an spectacular vestibule but smaller than Saint Peter’s cathedral in the Vatican, was the place of meeting between the pope Jean Paul II, and many ethnic groups.

Its impeccably printed streets and its charriots thrown by horses take the visitor by a route of enchantment by their places and parks, their historical suburbs and their beautiful streets. It seems like if Fray Diego de Landa were speaking to us of the routine of this town, proud of its glorious past. At night, the city offers a singular experience to us, when contemplating one starred celestial vault trimmed by the profiles of its pyramids, colonial temples and large houses; shades that seem to wake up of a dream of centuries.

Another building of great importance is the pyramid of Itzamatul, to which a gigantic platform was added to the three stages of construction of the building, same that was dedicated to the founder of the city and has a height of 22 meters, is the second structure in importance of Izamal.

During the innumerable excavations and restorations that have been done in the site, they found 80 Hispanic structures, one of them is Kinich Kakmoo, and this name means “Solar Face”, in which the people held worship to a sun-like life source. This imposing pyramid, stays standing up before us like a immutable witness of the “City of Hills” and that like a “Dew that descends from the sky”, invites the visitor to receive the unique magic of this wonderful corner of the pre-Hispanic Mexico, colonial and modern, in an meeting with time itself.

Location

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Izamal is located right to the center of the peninsula, 72 km to the east of the city of Merida. Take the state highway without number course to Tekantó; deviation to the right in 54th km or by the Federal toll road to Cancun (this is fastest way).

Gallery

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