Plaza Héctor Pérez Martinez

Welcome to Plaza Héctor Pérez Martínez, better known by locals as the Concha Acústica. We are here in the Barrio de San Román, one of the historic neighborhoods located just outside the former fortified city of Campeche. This square is an open-air amphitheater built between 1963 and 1964 as part of a broader modernization program for the city. The most distinctive feature here is the shell-shaped stage, which gives the place its nickname, the Concha Acústica. The curved design works as a natural sounding board, projecting voices and music toward the audience and allowing performances to take place outdoors without the need for heavy amplification. The square is named after Héctor Pérez Martínez. Born in 1906, he was a journalist, historian, writer, and governor of the State of Campeche from 1939 to 1943. He played an important role in the cultural and educational development of the region before later becoming Mexico’s Secretary of the Interior. That is why you will see a rather unusual monument here dedicated to him. Since its construction, the Concha Acústica has become one of the city’s main outdoor cultural venues. Concerts, theater performances, civic events, and festivals are regularly held here. During the Festival Internacional del Centro Histórico de Campeche, which takes place every year in December, the stage hosts many free performances.