The City with the perfect Balance...
When we decided to open the Spanish Institute in Mexico, the first thing we took into consideration was the location.
The city we chose had to be a perfect balance between History, Culture, Traditions, and Comfort. It had to be safe, clean, and the living had to be inexpensive.
The Spanish spoken in the area should be pure, with no accents or significant intonation. The inhabitants must be friendly to and welcoming of all our students.
The location had to have an international airport so it would be easily accessible for everyone. Finding such a city with all these qualities existing together seemed impossible.
Then we found Mérida.
...The City of Mérida
Mérida achieves the perfect balance of history, culture, contemporary style, traditions and economic prosperity to make your learning experience as fruitful, unique and comfortable as possible.
Breathtaking pyramids, historic haciendas, markets of indigenous hand-crafted goods and colonial churches exist here alongside modern shopping malls, wireless internet, VIP movie theaters and satellite television. Mérida’s rich variety is not limited to the physical city but extends to its people as well. Many locals speak Mayan as their first language and others speak more than three different languages.
There is never a lack of diversion as Mérida offers a wide selection of entertainment, whether you want to explore a wonder of the world, spend your weekend at the beach, go ice-skating or attend the opera on a Friday night. With wonderful people, clean streets, no political problems, an impressively low crime rate and a great quality of living, Mérida is the kind of city that will make you wish you could stay here forever.
History of the City
"The White and Romantic City"
Established on top of the old Mayan city of T'Ho, built majestically in white, Mérida is the capital of the Yucatan peninsula.
MeridaThe conquerors, astonished by the splendor of the pre-Hispanic monuments of T'Ho, named the area after the beautiful Roman city of Mérida in Spain.
From its foundation on January 6th of 1542 by Francisco de Montejo, Mérida’s remarkable reputation has been a testimony to its people and culture. Well-deserving of its status, the history and charm of the ancient Mayans has been preserved throughout centuries.
Mérida’s popular designation as “The White City” is significant for several reasons: the lightly colored facades of its buildings, its safe and clean streets, its brilliance under the luminosity of the sun and the white clothing commonly worn by its inhabitants.
MeridaThe city is characterized by a rich cultural atmosphere, its friendly people who are sincerely attached to the noble Mayan traditions and the provincial enchantment innately present thanks to its colonial past.
The second part of Mérida’s moniker can be attributed to the generous and affectionate attitude of its inhabitants toward locals and visitors alike, as well as the inspiration for romance that is encountered in the atmosphere of the historic setting.
Like many metropolitan cities of America, Mérida was designed with a broad layout, the streets branching outward from a central plaza. Pleasantly shaded by laurels from India, this plaza is surrounded on its four sides by some of the most venerable buildings of the city.
At sunset, the plaza is where Meridians and troubadours meet to enjoy the fresh air in the middle of the beautiful buildings, radiantly illuminated as the sun’s last rays catch their skillful architecture.
Lastly, and possibly the most romantic reason, the label is earned thanks to the genuine passion residents and travelers feel for Mérida.
Surrounded by magnificent historical, cultural and geographical settings, the white city of Mérida is the departure point of many one-day excursions thanks to its convenient location in the heart of the ancient Mayan world. All of these features help to make Mérida the best-kept secret of the Yucatan and one of the most treasured cities of Mexico.
Merida Contemporary
While Mérida is world-famous because of its history, friendly people and culture, it is also the economic center of Southeastern Mexico - a balance between the old and the new that is represented in many ways throughout the society.
On one hand, Mérida is the capital of the ancient Mayan World and on the other, a modern and dynamic city.
With close to a million inhabitants, the city is large enough to not only surpass your needs, but also satisfy your desires, and small enough to travel among Mérida’s prime spots in a short period of time.
MeridaThanks to its economic prosperity, Mérida is not only the safest city in Mexico, it also ranked second in a survey of cities with the best quality of life in the country (conducted in 2007 by the Reforma Newspaper).
Some of the best beaches along Mexico’s gulf coast are located only 18 kilometers (11.2 miles) north of the city on a brand new highway.
The city has a modern airport located within 6 kilometers (5 miles) from the downtown area. There are direct flights from Houston, Miami and Atlanta.
Mérida has a first-rate infrastructure and excellent services. The Institute is located within walking distance from hospitals, consulates, hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, car rentals, banks, exchange houses, convenience stores and more.