The beautiful colonial city of Merida

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This is the Yucatán's largest city and its capital. It serves as a great base for visits to Maya sites in the Chichen Itza(75 miles) and Uxmal (50 miles) areas. The city has a rich Spanish tradition with much beautiful colonial architecture, historic churches, palaces and mansions in plentiful supply. Although the city has a large population, many of the key objects of interest can be seen on a walking tour in the downtown region. There are two large artisan markets, the Curios Lucy and Bazar de Artisanías Mexicanas on Calle 56. There are lots of street vendors and other interesting shops selling everything from sandalwood fans, to hammocks, panama hats, silver and embroidered huipiles. The town holds a fair each Sunday called Domingo en Mérida with the downtown blocked from all traffic for the day. Almost every evening there is a free concert or performance in one or more of the city's many public parks. On Fridays, for example, the University of Yucatán Folklore Ballet performs at the University's enclosed patio. The Museo Regional de Antropología houses a large exhibition of Maya works.

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Palenque