Of the 13 World Heritage Cities to be found in Mexico, Campeche stands apart from the rest for one important reason: it is the only walled city. The hexagonal-shaped defense system, exemplified by forts and strongholds, is reason enough to plan a trip to this destination in south-east Mexico.
In order to help you picture how the city was able to fend off Cornelio Holz (aka “Pata de Palo”) and other pirates, a guided tour of the forts and strongholds will become an ideal excuse for you to start exploring the main sights offered by the capital of Campeche.
If you like architectural spots bursting with color, you’ll find Calle 59 fascinating. This pedestrian walkway runs all the way from Puerta de la Tierra (the Land Gate) to Puerta del Mar (the Sea Gate), two of the four entrance gates to this walled city. Along the walkway are some symbolic buildings such as the Casa del Teniente Rey, or the Church of San Francisquito. There are also restaurants, art galleries, shops and cafes with balconies. For souvenir shopping, you can follow the walkway to Calle 10, specifically to the Casa de las Handicrafts, where you can buy huipiles (traditional garments worn by indigenous women) and jipijapa hats (made from fiber taken from a species of palm tree) which are woven by hand in caves found in the town of Bécal.
Very close to said handicraft center is Plaza Independencia, where the Catedrál de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception), home to the Museo de Arte Sacro (Museum of Sacred Art), was built. You can take a tram from the square to continue exploring the principal monuments in the city.
Any map of the capital of Campeche will show you how the Historical Center almost touches the Gulf of Mexico - giving the city its nickname, “bride of the sea” - as the promenade provides the only barrier between them. No trip would be complete without walking the entire 2.2-mile stretch.
Nighttime also offers a treat, especially if you dine in one of the restaurants nestled beneath the arches of San Francisco and eat pan de cazón, a typical dish made with fried corn tortillas, habanero sauce, and of course, dogfish, which is a kind of shark. The arches are found at the former crossroads of the Camino Real, the route which connected the city of Campeche with Mérida, in the 16th century.
Having shared some places for you to visit in the city of Campeche, perhaps it’s important to mention that the best season to travel is from November to March, when there is very little chance of rain and the weather is warm.
Of the 13 World Heritage Cities to be found in Mexico, Campeche stands apart from the rest for one important reason: it is the only walled city. The hexagonal-shaped defense system, exemplified by forts and strongholds, is reason enough to plan a trip to this destination in south-east Mexico.
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In order to help you picture how the city was able to fend off Cornelio Holz (aka “Pata de Palo”) and other pirates, a guided tour of the forts and strongholds will become an ideal excuse for you to start exploring the main sights offered by the capital of Campeche.
If you like architectural spots bursting with color, you’ll find Calle 59 fascinating. This pedestrian walkway runs all the way from Puerta de la Tierra (the Land Gate) to Puerta del Mar (the Sea Gate), two of the four entrance gates to this walled city. Along the walkway are some symbolic buildings such as the Casa del Teniente Rey, or the Church of San Francisquito. There are also restaurants, art galleries, shops and cafes with balconies. For souvenir shopping, you can follow the walkway to Calle 10, specifically to the Casa de las Handicrafts, where you can buy huipiles (traditional garments worn by indigenous women) and jipijapa hats (made from fiber taken from a species of palm tree) which are woven by hand in caves found in the town of Bécal.
Very close to said handicraft center is Plaza Independencia, where the Catedrál de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception), home to the Museo de Arte Sacro (Museum of Sacred Art), was built. You can take a tram from the square to continue exploring the principal monuments in the city.
Any map of the capital of Campeche will show you how the Historical Center almost touches the Gulf of Mexico - giving the city its nickname, “bride of the sea” - as the promenade provides the only barrier between them. No trip would be complete without walking the entire 2.2-mile stretch.
Nighttime also offers a treat, especially if you dine in one of the restaurants nestled beneath the arches of San Francisco and eat pan de cazón, a typical dish made with fried corn tortillas, habanero sauce, and of course, dogfish, which is a kind of shark. The arches are found at the former crossroads of the Camino Real, the route which connected the city of Campeche with Mérida, in the 16th century.
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