To this colonial city is known as "the city of three cultures", since it features of their pre-Hispanic past, the colonial period and modern times are combined. It is located 1 hour from Merida, and many tour operators include in their tour to Chichen Itza. Its name comes from Zamna, "dew of heaven" character of singular wisdom and mythical origin regarded as instructor and teacher of the Maya.

Izamal is a beautiful colonial town founded in the mid-sixteenth century on the ruins of an ancient Mayan city; its most important building, the convent complex of Our Lady of Izamal, was built on the ruins of a Mayan shrine called Pap-hol-chac. In 1992, Izamal was visited by Pope John Paul II, who celebrated a memorable Mass in the large atrium above the temple of the Immaculate Conception and the former Convent of San Antonio de Padua. Since then, most of the houses and buildings that adorn its historic center are painted white and yellow. The Vatican colors Landmarks in Izamal.

This town built on 12 small hills that break the plain of the environment, still retains the vestiges of its ancient and enormous power: cenotes of ritual sacrifice are around. Of the old four white roads or sacbes, and leading to allied cities or subjugated, you can admire another two. Ake and Kantunil, satellites of this great Mayan city, are, on clear days, visible from the top of the pyramid of Kinich Kakmó.

For the visitor, the cobblestone streets, stone and asphalt Izamal require a long walk to extend the enjoyment visual in every corner. Zona Arqueologica The prehispanic city was occupied from about the year 300 BC, until very near the time of the Spanish conquest, as in the chronicles of Fray Diego de Landa grandeur of its buildings and recounts.

Currently, the most important building is the temple of Kinich Kak Moo, or Great Pyramid, known for its height. At its top is a small square which was possibly to perform rites and ceremonies dedicated to the deity Itzamna.

Church of the Immaculate Conception and the former Convent of San Antonio de Padua Three large ramps facing north, south and west provide access the monumental atrium, considered the largest in Latin America (with an area of nearly 8000 m2) which was completed in 1561. The façade of the church is Plateresque, while the choir window has a strong Moorish flavor; in the auction a belfry with three clear opens. The interior has a nave with barrel vaults and tracery in the chancel, where a neo-Gothic altarpiece from the late nineteenth century which houses the sculpture of the Virgin of Izamal is observed. Located in the streets 30 and 31. The church of the Immaculate Conception and the former Convent of San Antonio de Padua are an impressive set erected on a prehispanic platform that was part of the hill called "Pap-hol-chac", which was virtually destroyed by the Spanish to build the monastery complex, at the behest of Fray Diego de Landa, between 1553 and 1561. The former convent of Izamal, of sober architecture and large, is located to the north of the temple. In this place presents a sound and light show called "The Light of the Maya" on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 20:30 hrs.

Fiestas in Izamal: in June after 13 laps, the party is made and locals will pay tribute to San Antonio de Padua. The atrium of the convent is tinged with rainbows. The songs are heard from the morning and when the sun has finished its run, the Virgin of Izamal wanders the streets, they ask blessings are promised demands and offer songs for when you get your day in December. By day 21, the party is over, but in a respectful manner, the vernal equinox is celebrated.

Before December comes, the dead have been celebrated and honored; slowly wither flowers in the cemetery. November 29 dawns with noise in heaven and on earth prayers;colorful and varied stalls are placed in the main streets and for nine days and nights, they wait anxiously on 8 December to celebrate the Virgin of Izamal, the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception.

Gastronomy in Izamal: cuisine Izamal has all the charm and wonder of Yucatecan food. The market or a good restaurant is an opportunity to regale the palate with exquisite touch of these lands mestizo: beans with pork, chaya with egg, stew of hen, stuffed cheese, salbutes, panuchos pipián deer, papadzules, sausage, suckling pig pibil, joroches, mucbil chickens, pimes and tamales are just a few of the dishes to be enjoyed accompanied by xtabentun, balché, drink aniseed, posol with coconut or fresh horchata. To finish with a sweet taste in the mouth, nothing like yucca with honey, Roan pumpkin, sweet potato with coconut, cocoyol in syrup, pumpkin seed marzipan, marshmallow, arepas, hawthorn sweet syrup or ciricote.

Izamal Crafts: The dreams can be in your hands. Here the work of jewelry and leather goods are of unparalleled beauty: a woven sisal fiber hammock for unforgettable naps; furniture and ceramics are also a good option for visitors.

The exceptionally scenic town of Izamal, 72km east of Mérida, is a beautiful, tranquil place to spend a night or two, or longer, as a more rural alternative to the big city. It was formerly an important religious centre for the Maya, where they worshipped Itzamná, mythical founder of the ancient city and one of the gods of creation, at a series of huge pyramid-temples. Most of these are now no more than low mounds in the surrounding country, but several survive in the town itself, and are fascinating to see right in the middle of the residential grid. The largest, Kinich Kakmó (daily 8am–8pm), dedicated to the sun god, has been partly restored. It’s just a couple of blocks north of the two adjacent central plazas ask for directions from the roving brown-clad tourist police.

In 1552 Fray Diego de Landa (later responsible for a vicious Inquisition and auto-da-fé in Maní) lopped the top off a neighbouring pyramid and began building the grand Convento de San Antonio de Padua (daily 8am–9.30pm), which now anchors the main squares. The porticoed atrium is particularly beautiful in the late afternoon. Inside the complex is a statue of Nuestra Señora de Izamal, the patroness of the Yucatán. The statue inspires pilgrims from all over the peninsula, especially during the fiesta dedicated to her in August and again in December, when penitents climb the convent’s broad stairway on their knees. A few evenings a week, a sound-and-light show (Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat 8.30pm) is projected on the facade of the main church.

Izamal is also renowned as a refined crafts centre. A free map, available from most hotels and businesses, identifies workshops of wood-carvers, papier-mâché artists and other artisans. To get around, you can rent a bicycle (for 2hr) from the Centro Cultural y Artesanal (Mon–Wed & Fri 10am–8pm, Thurs & Sat 10am–10pm, Sun 10am–5pm) on the plaza. Its museum showcases choice pieces of craftwork from all over Mexico; there’s also a small café and a quiet back room where you can get a foot massage. On the south side of the convent plaza, Hecho a Mano, a particularly good craft and folk-art shop, is stocked with everything from Mexican wrestling masks to Huichol yarn paintings from Nayarit, as well as excellent photography by one of the owners; note that the hours (Mon–Sat 10am–2pm & 4–7pm) can be erratic.

Buses arrive at a small station one block west of the main plaza. Services run back to Mérida about twelve times daily (the last one goes at 7pm) and hourly to Valladolid and Cancún till 1am (though faster Oriente buses go only three times daily, via Tizimín).