Merida was originally called T´ho or Ichcansiho by the Maya inhabitants, depending on which chronicler you read. It was the principal city in the Maya province of Chacan. The first Spaniards found a large Maya commercial centre with ornate stone structures that reminded them of the Roman ruins in Spain’s city of Merida - hence the name.

Mexico’s Merida was founded on January 6, 1542 by Fransisco de Montejo "El Mozo" (The Son), to celebrate his victory over the Indians after 15 years of conflict.

The Maya Indians were forced to dismantle their temples and palaces and use the materials to build homes, government buildings, cathedrals, and parks that they were not permitted to enjoy. Merida became the capital and trade centre of the Peninsula, the seat of civil as well as religious authority.

It was not until the late 1840s that the Indians finally rebelled in the Caste War, one of the bloodiest in the history of Mexico.

Sights to see include:
Central Plaza Area
The Cathedral
Casa de Montejo
Paseo Montejo, including Casa Cámara
Palacio Canton (National Institute of Anthropology and History)