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he City of Hills, located right in the middle of the Peninsula, Izamal may be the oldest

city in Yucatn. Its history is very attached to religious events. Izamal was conquered by the Spaniards, and it was the monks in their ea-gerness to convert the Indians to Catholicism that gave the city its religious distinction. To this day, Izamals people are very devoted to the Immaculate Virgin.

An important sight in Izamal is the Franciscan Convent San Antonio de Padua that was built from and over one of the Mayan pyramids. This convent is also famous for the story of the monk Fray Diego de Landa, its founder, who burned all the Indian scripts, and then feeling remorse for what he had done, tried to write all he could remember of the ways of the Indians in the Re-lation of Things of the Yucatn.

Pope John Paul II visited Izamal in 1993 and held a special meeting and Mass specifically for the Indigenous people of the area. This has been one of Izamals claims to fame ever since. Note the beautifully restored altarpiece, the stained-glass window of St. Francis of Asissi, and the many statues along the walls. The second floor is where the statue of Our Lady of Izamal, Queen and Patron Saint of Yucatn, is housed. Note all the gold-leaf paint, crystal chandeliers, flowers and elegantly painted walls. A small church store with postcards and religious souvenirs is on the first floor. Izamal is a jewel of a colonial city, with just about

all the buildings painted an egg-yolk yellow, making the entire town look like a movie set. Cobblestoned streets and colonial lamp posts complete the scenery. There are Mayan pyra-mids (Kinich Kakmo, the most important, Ka-bul, Itzamatul and the Conejo), colonial-style buildings, parks and plazas, horses and bug-gies, and lots of people for people watching.

Visit the Museo de la Comunidad, located un-der the Convent in front of Cinco de Mayo Park, and the stunning Centro Cultural y Artesanal on the main plaza. It is a museum of Mexican folk art, caf, handcrafts store, and spa. The horses and buggies that are by the plaza can take you all over town for a very reasonable price, or you can also visit the town at your own pace by renting a bike from Izamal Bikes. While in Izamal, make a point to visit Hecho a Mano on the Main Plaza. This unique shop is owned by American Jeanne Hunt, who believes a craft be-comes art when it is unique. Also visit Galera Tres Pjaros with art and antiques.

In Izamal you will find delicious Yucatecan cui-sine. We recommend the large, thatched roof Kinich about four blocks from the plaza, or Caf Los Arcos at Parque Itzamn. You can also visit the Lakin-Ha caves, with a restaurant on site, 1/2 km. east of Izamal on Calle 31.

The Light & Sound Show The Light of the Maya at the Convent is Mon. to Sat. at 8:30 pm. Entrance: $90 pesos foreigners, $63 pesos Mexicans and $11 pesos children.

Enjoy Izamal en Domingo on Sundays in Parque Zamn from 9 am - 3 pm., and visit the henequen Hacienda Ak at the archaeological site of Ak near Izamal.

How to get there: Its easy to go by car. Take the Cuota road toward Cancn, and exit at km. 48 towards Izamal at the Hoctn exit. The trip takes 45 minutes. Or go by bus, the station is at calle 67 between 50 and 52, with departures every hour. The cost of the ticket is $22 pesos one way, $44 pesos roundtrip.

Where to stay: There are several little one, two, three and four star hotels. We recommend the Hotel Macanch, Rinconada del Convento, Green River, San Miguel Arcngel, Hotel Haci-enda Izamal, Real Izamal, Posada Casa Anti-gua and Romantic Hotel Santo Domingo. For private villas contact: reservations@catherwoodtravels.com

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