Merida Cathedral (Catedral de San Ildefonso), Merida: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

Catedral de San Ildefonso faces the Plaza Grande in central Mérida and was completed in 1598, making it one of the oldest cathedral structures on the American mainland. The austere limestone facade reflects the Herrerian style popular under Philip II of Spain. Inside, a 7-meter wooden crucifix known as the Cristo de la Unidad dominates the nave; it replaced an older colonial figure destroyed during anticlerical unrest in 1915. Stone from dismantled Maya structures at the ancient city of T'hó was used in the cathedral's foundations. is just one of many options in Merida. Major attractions worth considering include Celestun, Kabah, and Paseo de Montejo.