Izamal Things to Do Tips by RedEaredPanda

Evidence of Importance of the Sun & Mayas

The vibrant and beautiful Yellow color of the city of Izamal evident in the walls of streets and houses has historical significance.

From what a local who himself was half Mayan told us, the color yellow signifies the color of

1) The SUN
2) The CORN

both of which were extremely important to the Mayans. How much truth there is to this fact, I would leave for the historians to argue but I found it very interesting to see symbolizm in the streets of the sun everywhere..

The picture is taken of one of the stairs leading up to the Kinich Kak Mo Pyramid. The symbol is that of the SUN which had to be of some importance if it was carved on the stairs leading up to the pyramid.

Kinich Kak Mo Pyramid of Izamal

Kinich Kak Mo pyramid of Izamal is a short walk from the Monastary and it is open daily with no admission. It is a huge pyramid, not so well maintained and excavated as some of the other pyramids of the Yucatan region but its size is amazing.

Getting to the top of the pyramid involves a graudal but stiff climb over several levels since it consists of one pyramid base with another whole pyramid on top.

In mayan times the entire space between the Kinich Kak Mo and where the monastary now stands was just one great square which may have well been one of the biggest of all Mayan Plazas.

Directions: From Parque Itzamna or the city square, take calle 28 for a couple of blocks to meet calle 27. The enterance to the pyramid is situated a little to your right.

Inside the Monastary of San Antonio de Padua

This picture is taken inside of the Monastary of San Antonio de Padua. It was a beautiful scene as we entered and saw some locals sitting on the benches praying as there was no mass going on.

The Monastary of the Convent house as it is called often is said to be built where there was a Mayan Pyramid in 16th century by the Fransiscans who came to the city and used the same stones of the pyramid in the construction of the Monastary. The shrine in the picture is the original from 16th century brought by the Spaniards and it is beautiful.

Monastary of San Antonio De Padua

The Monastary or the Convent house is situated across the city square. As you go up the stairs, passed the gates and into the courtyard, you come across a big courtyard infront of which is the church.

The courtyard is beautifully painted with yellow walls and yellow columns hence the color of the city. Inside the courtyard by the church's enterance, is the statue of Pope John Paul II in memorance of his visit to this religious city in 1993. When we visited the monastary, Pope John Paul had just passed away and his statue had many bouquets of flowers and photographs decorating its base.

The Monastary is a must see and can be said to be the main attraction of the city. It is well worth the visit and one can spend a good 2 to 3 hours exploring its hidden treasures and history.

Directions: As you follow Calle 31, it automatically leads to city's square and the convent house..

A Plaza in Izamal near Convent House

Neighboring the Convent house in Izamal is this little plaza with the statue of Monk Fray Diego the Larna with the yellow buildings of the city of Izamal surrounding it.
When the Spanairds first came to Mexico and the city of Izamal, they had missions of converting the Mayans to Christianity. Hence they destroyed many old Mayan pyramids and structures and built their colonial houses.

Under the orders of Monk Fray Diego the Larna, Mayan pyramid was destroyed and its place, the Convent house which exists today was built. For this reason, many inhabitants of the city of Izamal, many of which are Mayans, do not like this historical figure.

Never the less, this statue has historical significance and is well worth the visit.

Directions: Near the Convent House