Hidalgo Park

This small park is part of the original colonial layout of the city and appears in the very first urban plans as a public space meant to organize everyday life around the historic center. Over time, it has changed both its name and its role. For many years, it was known as the Plazuela del Jesús, after the nearby church, before gradually becoming Parque Hidalgo in the nineteenth century, a name officially adopted in 1877. Even so, many people in Mérida still call it Parque Cepeda Peraza, in reference to the monument at its center dedicated to General Manuel Cepeda Peraza. A key military and political figure in regional history, he was a republican leader involved in the major conflicts of the nineteenth century and has been honored here since 1896. The name Parque Hidalgo itself has two possible meanings. Officially, it pays tribute to Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the priest considered the father of Mexican independence, who launched the uprising against Spanish rule in 1810. But according to several local historians, it may also refer to the Hidalgos of Yucatán, Maya men recruited by the government during the Caste War and likely gathered in this area. These Hidalgos were not nobles in the traditional sense, but Maya individuals granted this title from 1848-onward to encourage them to fight against Maya insurgents. Between nine and ten thousand were recruited, forming a significant military force, yet despite their title and loyalty, many were abused, imprisoned and even sold as slaves to Cuba. This reminds us that behind the park’s peaceful name lies a complex and painful chapter of Yucatán’s history. Today, however, the park is best known as a quiet and pleasant place to sit on the famous white confidant chairs, now emblematic of Mérida. Set in pairs and designed so that two people can sit face to face while remaining side by side, they are perfect for a calm conversation in the shade. Introduced at the end of the nineteenth century, when the city was influenced by European fashions, they invite visitors to linger in the cooler hours of the evening, offering an ideal pause during your walk through the city.