All about Mercado Lucas de Gálvez in Mérida, Mexico

The iconic huge Mercado Lucas de Gálvez is the main market of Mérida and directly adjoins the Mercado San Benito. Merida’s bustling market dates back to the late 1800s. On average, 20,000 to 25,000 people visit the Lucas de Gálvez market every day.

Almost everything you can think of is on offer. You can buy fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, candies, condiments, shoes, clothes, local handicrafts and actually more or less anything you can imagine.

You will find a section where you can buy hand-painted Yucatecan clothing made by the modern Maya. Characteristic of Yucatán are also the famous bordados, hand-embroidered textiles such as tablecloths, bags or napkins decorated with traditional motifs and patterns.

There is also a pet area in the middle of the market, but unfortunately - as usual in Mexico - with bad conditions for the animals, which are crammed into very small cages.

Food

Are you looking for food? You can buy original ingredients for the dishes of the Yucatan cuisine, as many of the products come from the Maya people of the surrounding villages who sell them in the city.

The fresh fruits and vegetables are grown in the interior of the Yucatan Peninsula. Downstairs at the northern end of the market you’ll find a range of food stalls serving among other things delicious seafood cocktails.

History of the market

Today's huge market has a long history dating back to the 19th century. Around 1884, a simple shed with a tin roof was built. Three years later, more precisely on September 16, 1887, it was inaugurated under the name of "Mercado de Gálvez".

Some time later, however, the simple shed was demolished to make way for a larger market, which was inaugurated in 1909 - and demolished again in 1948 to make way for the current market.

Today's Mercado Lucas de Gálvez covers an area of around 45,000 square metres with more than 2,000 vendors. It's a very large and crazy indoor market with a variety of small stalls that sell literaly everything.

Origin of the name

Curious about the origin of the name? The market was named after Lucas de Gálvez y Montes de Oca. He was governor and captain general of Yucatán from 1789 to 1792, a role he was appointed to by King Charles III (although he served during the reign of Charles IV).

Born in Seville, Spain in 1739, Lucas de Gálvez arrived in Mérida in March 1789. However, tragically, three years later, on June 22, 1792, he was assassinated in Mérida at the age of 53.

In the surrounding area

As mentioned, Mercado San Benito is directly adjacent (to the south, on the other side of Calle 67). Mercado San Benito is the second most important market in Mérida and the largest.

The Museo de la Ciudad de Mérida is also directly adjacent (on the northern side, on Calle 65). The City Museum of Mérida is dedicated to the history of the city of Mérida and is also worth a visit. And Plaza Grande with all its sights around it is only two blocks away.

Security tip

As you probably already know, Mérida is considered a very safe city. However, pickpocketing is unfortunately not uncommon in the city's largest market, so you should take extra care of your valuables, especially your wallet and mobile phone.

If you are travelling to Mérida, be sure to check out our Traveling Tips for Mérida, Mexico. Here you will find more very valuable information on travelling safely and all the other important things you should know.

Image Source (main image): ©Ryan, flickr, CC BY 2.0, Link

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