All about Mercado de San Benito in Mérida, Mexico

The Mercado de San Benito is directly adjacent to the Mercado Lucas de Gálvez. The huge market hall is located to the south and is only a few meters apart. So if you have the time, you can visit both markets at once.

The market hall is a square and takes up exactly one block. Calle 56 and 54 surround the hall to the west and east and Calle 67 and 69 run to the north and south respectively.

San Benito market is the second most important market in Mérida and the largest. The market hall houses the meat hall, large areas for vegetables, fruit, spices, flowers, jewelry stalls, shoes and much more.

Die Markthalle

Mercado de San Benito is one of the oldest in the city. Today, however, the market is located in a modern, huge multi-storey building, which was designed and built for this purpose a few years ago.

The market hall, newly built in 2003, consists mainly of concrete and has a very functional design. There is also an underground parking garage, to accommodate the large number of visitors.

History of the region

Where the market hall is located today (and in the area around it), the citadel of San Benito stood in colonial times. A citadel is a type of fortress that was often built in strategically important towns or areas.

The citadel was intended to protect Mérida from attacks by rebellious Maya and serve as a last line of defense. The citadel was later used for various other purposes and was eventually demolished.