| The gorgeous capital city of Campeche,
located in Campeche State on the east coast of the Gulf of Mexico,
is the largest city between Merida and Villahermosa and is one
of Mexico's best-preserved historic centers. For its cultural
achievements, it was declared a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO.
HISTORY
Founded in 1540, Campeche City was the first Spanish settlement
on the Yucatán Peninsula. The city was designed in the Renaissance
style of a chess board and on the square closest to the sea
the main town square was constructed.
The historic center preserves the outer walls and several fortresses
constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries, designed to defend
this Caribbean port against attacks from the sea.
Campeche's historic center consists of three districts that
represent the city's history. The first is the walled section
featuring mansions inhabited by the Spaniards during the colonial
era; the second is the San Francisco district to the north of
the fortification, containing some of the oldest buildings on
the Yucatán Peninsula; and the third is San Roman, south of
the city, where Mexican indigenous groups and mulattos from
the Caribbean settled.
Interesting sites within the historic center include the Cathedral,
built in 1540 and the oldest on the Yucatán Peninsula; the San
Franciscan Church also built in the 16th century; and the Carvajal
Mansion, once owned by the rich and powerful Carvajal family
and converted into government offices and a crafts store.
Fort San Miguel, overlooking Campeche from the south, houses
the Campeche Regional Museum displaying prehispanic antiquities;
Fort San Jose, on the opposite side, has also been converted
into a museum, featuring pieces from the colonial era. Fort
San Carlos houses a government-sponsored handicrafts market
and a rather intriguing basement, with secret passageways linked
to houses throughout the city, dating back to piracy times when
quick escapes were needed.
NEARBY
About 30 miles southeast of Campeche is the ancient Mayan
city of Edzna, dating back to 600 B.C. and abandoned in the
15th century. Interesting buildings include the Temple of Five
Stories (Templo de Cinco Cuerpos) with five levels, and the
Temple of Masks, featuring head carvings with jaguar-like faces.
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Campeche
