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Campeche is the only city in Mexico which has conserved the remains of a wall that used to protect the population from the pirate attacks between the 17^th and 18^th centuries. This colonial construction shields the historical centre of the city which was declared as World Heritage by the UNESCO in 1999.

The historical center of Campeche, declared as World Heritage by the UNESCO in 1999, is surrounded by a great stone wall. This wall, which has been reconstructed almost entirely, used to protect the citizens from constant pirate attacks that were rather habitual during the 17^th and 18^th centuries. The pirates would surprise the town and empty it from its valuables and treasures; an activity in which especially the French pirate Laurent de Graff and the Englishman Henry Morgan gained both a rather dreadful reputation.

Along the wall you will be able to find the remains of what used to be its original defenses, forts and bulwarks, and which nowadays house the most important museums and galleries of the city. These include the Museum of las Estelas, sheltered by el Baluarte (bulwark) de San Carlos, which exhibits an interesting collection of archaeological items; el Baluarte de la Soledad, where there is the City Museum which preserves an important catalogue of maps and other historical objects; el Baluarte de Santiago, reconstructed in 1950 and turned into a botanical garden and el Baluarte de San Pedro, dedicated to promoting the existing tourist attractions in the city. There is also el Baluarte de San Francisco, which contains the historical and anthropological library and el Baluarte de San Juan, the tiniest of all. Finally, it is worth of paying a visit to el Baluarte de Santa Rosa, where all kinds of handicrafts can be found in very cheap prices and to the Fort of San Miguel, where you can admire the lovely jade masks of Calakmul amongst other important objects that form part of the Mayan Archeological Museum?s collection.