The Travel Gallery

Here’s our monthly gallery showcasing some of the region’s many natural and historical attractions. How many have you visited?  Which ones would you like to explore on future visits to Grand Residences?

Xcaret Museum of Folk Art

A day at Xcaret Park is full of aquatic fun, nature and Mexican culture and do spare some time to visit the Folk Art Museum in the Henequen Hacienda. It is a celebration of the colorful world of Mexican handicrafts and the creativity of its artisans. Exquisite Talavera ceramics from Puebla and immense trees of life sculpted in clay dominate the rooms; there are displays of figurines ranging from the Virgin of Guadalupe saints and mermaids to market vendors, skeleton mariachis and diablitos, fantastical alebrije wood carvings, glittering copper, silver and tin, and rainbow-colored textiles full of ancient symbolism.

Convento San Bernardino, Valladolid

Spend the morning in the colonial town of Valladolid and after you have explored the main square, stroll along Calzada de Los Frailes, a pedestrian-only street linking the center of town with San Bernardino Church and Sisal Convent.

Founded by the Franciscan order in 1552, San Bernardino is a sprawling fortress-like monastery was the center of missionary work with Mayan communities in the eastern Yucatan. It is built above an underground river called Sis-Há (cold water in Maya) and has a network of tunnels leading away towards the city, which were used in times of strife. The church has an interesting altarpiece and several paintings of the saints. 

The monastery’s history is entwined with legends of notorious 17th-century pirate Lorenzillo, the scourge of Spanish ports. He came to Valladolid seeking a local girl he had fallen in love with. The colonial authorities captured and imprisoned him in a monastery cell. As he awaited execution, his crew mounted a daring raid on the town to rescue him. 

 There is a video mapping show on the monastery façade from Thursday to Tuesday at 9 p.m. (Spanish) and 9:30 p.m. in English.

Uayma

If you are Valladolid-bound, take a short detour to visit the nearby village of Uayma and its colorful parish church. Dating from 1646, this architectural gem is painted in vibrant rust, white and blue and the ajaracas or bas-reliefs on the facade show Moorish inspiration with flower, star and tie designs. Seven two-headed eagles with outstretched wings can also be seen in different parts of the façade, the heraldic symbol of Asturias, Spain.

Your Concierge can help you arrange tours and private trips to these spots and to all the natural and historical wonders in the Mexican Caribbean and Yucatan.