Museum of Maya Architecture

You are standing in front of the Baluarte de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, one of the bastions that once formed part of Campeche’s defensive wall system. In the 17th century, Campeche was a prosperous trading port, especially known for exporting valuable logwood. This wealth quickly attracted pirates, mainly English, Dutch, and French privateers, who came to raid the city and attack ships sailing along the coast. The most devastating assault took place in 1663, when the English vice-admiral Sir Christopher Myngs arrived with a fleet of 14 ships and more than 1,400 men. The Spanish defenders, numbering only about 150 soldiers, managed to resist for roughly two hours before surrendering. The pirates then spent two weeks looting the city before finally leaving with 14 ships loaded with goods. This traumatic episode marked a major turning point in the history of Campeche. After the attack, the governor of Yucatán proposed building a defensive system to better protect the city. Construction began in 1668, and a network of walls with eight bastions was built around Campeche, including the Baluarte de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. This bastion played a key role in the system because it guarded the access to the port and the Puerta de Mar, the main gate facing the sea. Today, the bastion houses the Museum of Maya Architecture, where you can see sculptures and architectural elements from several archaeological sites across the state of Campeche. The museum offers a closer look at the architectural styles of the Maya civilization and the construction techniques used in their cities. A ramp leads up to the ramparts, where soldiers once watched the horizon for approaching ships. Feel free to explore the museum if you’d like. Otherwise, the tour continues a little farther ahead by turning right beneath the Puerta de Mar. As you walk there, you’ll also pass a bronze statue of a fisherman with his traditional tools, leaning against the city walls.