Arco de Dragones

The Arco de Dragones, a vestige of the old gates of Mérida

The Arco de Dragones is one of the few still-visible vestiges of the old gates of Mérida. Built in the colonial era, this arch testifies to the time when the city was delimited by these passages. The Mérida audio-guided tour stops here to evoke the urban history of the city and its famous colonial arches.

A colonial arch around 1690

Built around 1690, in the colonial era, the Arco de Dragones is among the old arches that marked the entrances of Mérida. The city had several of them, of which only a few survive today, like this one, located near Parque de la Mejorada. Its name and its architecture recall the colonial past of the city and the organisation of the urban space in the seventeenth century.

What to see

The stone arch, plain and elegant, stands near Parque de la Mejorada and testifies to the colonial history of Mérida. With the other preserved arches of the city, such as that of San Juan, it makes up a small circuit for those curious about heritage. It is a brief but evocative stop, recalling the limits of the Mérida of the past.

Practical information

The Arco de Dragones lies near Parque de la Mejorada, east of the historic centre of Mérida, reachable on foot. It is an open-air monument, freely visible at all times, with no ticket office. On the level, it is discovered during a walk in the Mejorada district.

What is the Arco de Dragones?

It is one of the few surviving colonial arches of Mérida, built around 1690, a vestige of the old gates that marked the entrances of the city.

Where is the Arco de Dragones?

Near Parque de la Mejorada, east of the historic centre of Mérida, among the vestiges of the old colonial gates of the city.