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The state of CAMPECHE is the largest city between Villahermosa and Merida and comprises the western third of the Yucatan Peninsula. The entire city has been declared a national historic monument. Campeche’s most remarkable attraction is a massive 1.5-mile hexagonal wall with eight fortresses that was erected for protection against repeated sackings by pirates in the16th and 17th centuries.
Some Points of Interest are:
FORT SOLEDAD (Fuerte de la Soledad). 3 blocks north of the ancient Puerta del Mar entranceway, has been converted into a museum displaying Maya artefacts, an arms collection and exhibits on colonial history.
FORT SAN MIGUEL (Fuerte de San Miguel) is one of the most impressive of all the fortresses. Its moat supposedly contains crocodiles.
FORT SAN CARLOS (Fuerte de San Carlos) a government sponsored handicrafts market today, has intriguing secret underground passageways, most of them are sealed off with bricks, but guides offer tours into the fort’s basement. The roof of Fort San Carlos, still equipped with ancient cannon, offers a spectacular view of the gulf.
LOCAL MARKETS sell such handicrafts as panama hats and articles made of alligator skin.
THE REGIONAL COUSINE includes such exotic dishes as shark stew.
FRANCISCAN CATHEDRAL, the oldest convent church in the Yucatan Peninsula.
CONVENT OF SAN FRANCISCO, the site of one of the first masses in Campeche.
BRIDGE OF DOGS (El Puente de los Perros) a colonial bridge guarded by carved stone dogs, honors the Dominican missionaries called “Dogs of God” for their zealous hounding of converts.
a classic Maya city and the state’s principal archeological zone within its 3.5 square-mile area, some of which is overgrown, are the 98 foot tall Temple of Five Stories (Templo de los cinco cuerpos) and many outlying ruins.
Several destinations are nearby:
In Campeche state, West of Chetumal are the XPUJIL ruins, consist of three ornamental towers which once were extravagantly decorated. Shortly before reaching Xpujil, the ruins of RIO BEC are deep in the Yucatan jungle and about 4 miles (7kilometers) west of Xpujil lies BECAN, with the largest structures, including temples, plazas and a ball court. About 6 miles (10 kilometres) beyond Becan another, unlike others in the area, are the ruins of CHICANNA, within an enticing grove of tropical trees and other vegetation. The main temple features a fascinating doorway fashioned after a serpent’s open mouth; other structures are accented by stone carvings of imaginative monster masks.
The CALACKMUL BIOSPHERE RESERVE, named for the archaeological zone Calakmuk, the largest archaeological site in the southern Yucatan Peninsula. The biosphere reserve was established in 1989 to preserve the natural rain forest.
Campeche is steeped in history, you will never forget the experience to visit it.
Ask for our private transfers from Cancun (Airport or hotel zone), Riviera Maya, Tulum or Merida
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