All about Palacio de Gobierno in Mérida, Mexico

Palacio de Gobierno (Palace of the Government) houses the state of Yucatán's executive government offices. The executive authorities of Yucatán are responsible for administrative tasks and the provision of public services.

However, it is not only a government office, but also a museum where you can stroll through to see murals and oil paintings or admire the building's colonial architecture. The building also has a large and impressive courtyard.

Palacio de Gobierno is located directly opposite the Catedral de Mérida on the north side of Plaza Grande. The entrance is always guarded by policemen, this is irritating at first, but you can just go in.

The balcony of the salon on the first floor offers a beautiful view of the Plaza Grande and the Catedral de Mérida. Built in neoclassical style between 1887 and 1892, the two-storey building was once the residence of the province's governors. It was built According to the plans of engineer Olegario G. Canton.

The murals

A special feature of the building are the large murals ("Murales") created between 1971 and 1974 by Fernando Castro Pacheco on the main staircase and under the arcades of the inner courtyard. Fernando Castro Pacheco was a local artist and a student of Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo's husband.

Beginning in the staircase, the paintings tell the story of the ancient Maya, the Spanish conquest, the Mayan rebellion and Mexican independence, one after the other.

In the "Salón de la Historia de Yucatán" on the first floor, there are eight more large oil paintings by the artist dating from 1978. The area offers a fascinating journey through the history of the Yucatán Peninsula.