Valladolid (Saki' in Maya) is a small city and its surrounding municipality in the southeastern part of the Mexican state of Yucatán. Valladolid is in the inland eastern part of the state at 20°40′N 88°12′W / 20.67°N 88.20°W.
At the census of 2005 the population of the city was 45,868 inhabitants (the third-largest community in the state), and that of the municipality was 68,863. The municipality has an areal extent of 945.22 km² (364.95 sq mi) and includes many outlying communities, the largest of which are Popolá, Kanxoc, Yalcobá, and Xocén.
Contents |
History
Named after Valladolid, at the time the capital of Spain, the first Valladolid in Yucatán was established by Spanish Conquistador Francisco de Montejo's nephew on May 28, 1543 at some distance from the current town, at a lagoon called Chouac-Ha. However, early Spanish settlers complained about the mosquitos and humidity at the original location, and petitioned to have the city moved further inland.
On March 24, 1545, Valladolid was relocated to its current location, built atop a Maya town called Zaci or Zaci-Val, whose buildings were dismantled to reuse the stones to build the Spanish colonial town. The following year the Maya people revolted, but were put down with additional Spanish troops coming from Mérida.
Valladolid had a population of 15,000 in 1840. The city and the surrounding region was the scene of intense battle during Yucatán's Caste War, and the Latino forces were forced to abandon Valladolid on March 14, 1848, with half being killed by ambush before they reached Mérida. The city was sacked by the Maya rebels but was recaptured later in the war.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, Valladolid was the third largest and most important city of the Yucatán Peninsula, (after Mérida and Campeche). It had a sizable well-to-do Criollo population, with a number of old Spanish style mansions in the old city. Valladolid was widely known under its nickname The Sultaness of the East.
Sights
Notable sights in Valladolid are the Colonial era cathedral, the Convent of San Bernadino and Cenote Zaci, a landscaped freshwater well with a restaurant. The town is a popular base for visiting nearby major Mayan ruins such as Chichen Itza and Ek' Balam.
References
- Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
- Yucatán Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
