Only an hour's drive from Merida,
Izamal is the reigning colonial jewel of Yucatan. According to legend, it was
founded by Zamna, the god who invented writing and the discoverer of henequen
(sisal) fiber and its benefits.
For centuries it served as a
pilgrimage destination for the Mayan populace and during the colonial epoch as a
Christian sanctuary of first rank. Lately, it's been given the name of the City
of the Hills owing to the numerous Prehispanic vestiges that encircle the urban
center. La ziranda Hotel, Playa del Carmen Q. Roo, Mexico Out of the total of 12
only one pyramid, Kinich Kakmo, has been kept in magnificent condition although
architectural traces remain of the rest.
This pyramid, 207 meters long and
190 meters wide was restored several years ago and dedicated to the lord of the
rain that falls from the skies in Mayan mythology.
The convent of San Antonio was
erected on top of the ruins of an ancient indigenous ceremonial center and
dedicated to the Virgin of the Conception.
This convent boasts the
largest atrium that is enclosed in Mexico, approximating the dimensions of those
of Saint Paul in Rome. It contains 75 arches that form an impressive corridor
measuring 7,806 square meters.
This is a lovely, calm city to
ride through in a fleet horse drawn carriage to enjoy in the course of a
refreshingly unusual day.
