A peaceful, yet beautifult town filled with colonial beauty and Mexican traditions

CT Staff/Agencies

Campeche is a World Heritage site, and justifiably so. It´s a low-rise town, where the houses are painted in a wide spectrum of beautiful pastel colours. With its narrow cobbled streets, and relaxed atmospehere it is a joy to visit and walk around.

Because most travellers seem to bypass Campeche, it is less commercial and seems a lot less touristy that many other Yucatan towns.

In colonial times, the town flourished as a major port, and as a result suffered from attacks by pirates. After a particularly violent attack, the city was fortified and Campeche's famous bastions were constructed from 1686 onwards.

At weekends the main square comes alive as the locals come out to stroll and listen to music. You can come across a marimba, a traditional group or a jazz band was playing while across the square in front of the Cathedral an outdoor game of "bingo" (La Lotería) was being conducted.

Heading north, you will come to Puerta del Mar (Sea Gate) which provided access to the city from the sea before the area to the northwest was filled in. The gate was demolished in 1893 but rebuilt in 1957.

Don't forget to visit Mansion Carvajal, a manor with Arabic arcs and flights of steps made of marble. Today it has been converted into a crafts store and offices for the government.

La barroca, encantadora Campeche

Campeche es Patrimoniio de la Humanidad y con justa razón. Se trata de una ciudad horizontal en la que las casas son pintadas en un amplio espectro de bellos colores pastel. Sus angostas calles adoquinadas, su atmósfera relajada hacen su visita especialmente placentera.

En tiempos coloniales, esta ciudad floreció como puerto, y como resultado sufrió de ataques piratas. Después de un ataque especialmente violento, la ciudad se fortificó, dando origen a sus famosos muros.

Los fines de semana, la plaza principal cobra vida al llenarse de campechanos que salen a pasear o escuchar música. En un pequeño espacio es fácil toparse con una marimba, un grupo tradicional o una banda de jazz, mientras se realiza un juego de lotería frente a la catedral.

En el norte de la ciudad se encuentra la Puerta del Mar, que era el acceso vía marina antes de que ocupara el área al noroeste. La puerta se demolió en 1893 pero se reconstruyó en 1957.

No se olviden visitar la Mansión Carvajal, una fastuosa hacienda con arcos arábicos y escaleras de mármol. Hoy funciona como un edificio gubernamental.