People that know me, also know my fascination with local markets wherever I travel, therefore a visit to the Mercado Municipal in Valladolid was a must. This authentic Mexican market offers everything from cheap clothing to local fruits and vegetables, honey, sweets (even in Mexican colors) and not to forget the famous chile habanero which is one of the hottest chiles in the world and for which the Yucatán peninsulat is nowadays the biggest producer. Besides the actual chili peppers, habanero hot sauce is also being sold which is widely used in the Yucatecan cuisine.
When most people think of Yucatán, they think of Cancún, Playa del Carmen or Tulum, but barely anybody has the little town of Valladolid on their radar. Built atop a Maya town in 1545, Valladolid is today one of the “Pueblos Mágicos” which is a designation given to towns all over Mexico that provide a magical experience due to their cultural richness and historical relevance.
The center of the colonial town is Parque Francisco Canton Rosado which provides for a nice and relaxing spot to escape the heat of the day while watching people go about their life, as well as the gathering place for locals and tourists alike to close out the day with music, dance and some delicious Yucatecan food. Right next to the square is the Iglesia de San Servacio which was restored in 1706 after the original church was ordered to be demolished and rebuilt just a year earlier. Most of Valladolid is laid out in a classic grid and being a small town makes it easy to walk or bike your way through the colonial center with it’s very well preserved pastel colored buildings. Only one street sticks out is Calzada de los Frailes which runs diagonal and ends in Parque Sisal which hosts the massive Ex-Convento de San Bernadino de Siena which was constructed in 1552.
