Izamal

Town in north-central Yucatán, Mexico; population (1996) 13,500. The town is situated 80 km/50 mi east of Mérida, with which it is connected by rail. It is located in an agricultural area. The town's Mayan relics attract many tourists.

The original Maya religious site here was a pilgrimage destination. In the colonial period Izamal was chosen by the Spanish as one of the main areas in which they tried to introduce Christianity. Many of its pyramids were destroyed and replaced by churches. Some of the remaining Spanish colonial buildings are painted a yellow ochre, giving the town the nickname of the ‘Golden City’.

Tourism developed considerably as a result of a ‘beautification’ project related to the Pope's visit in 1993.