All about Parque de San Juan in Mérida, Mexico

Parque de San Juan is one of the slightly larger parks downtown in the San Juan neighborhood, three blocks south of Plaza Grande. As usual, there are many park benches set up and shady large trees.

The focal point of the park is the fountain "Fuente de la Negrita", brought from Paris at the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1910, a statue of Benito Juárez was erected. Benito Pablo Juárez García (1806-1872) was president of Mexico several times between 1858 and 1872.

The park itself is a tranquil space, perfect for relaxing while enjoying the ambiance of Mérida’s colonial heritage. Its layout reflects the traditional design of many Mexican town squares, featuring shaded benches, lush greenery, and an open area often bustling with local activity.

The San Juan park is encircled by historic buildings and small eateries. For younger children, there is a playground with slides, swings and seesaws in the park.

Origin of the park

The Parque de San Juan grew around the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista, a church built on the remains of a 17th-century chapel. While the exact date of the park's creation is unclear, it likely took shape in the late 18th or early 19th century as a public space surrounding the church.

Where is the market?

Interestingly, the San Juan neighborhood, unlike most areas in Mérida, doesn’t have its own market. However, it’s just a few blocks away from the Mercado Lucas de Gálvez, the city’s main market, and the neighboring Mercado de San Benito.

Given their size and central location, these two markets likely made an additional market in the area unnecessary at the time.

Iglesia de San Juan Bautista

The true highlight, of course, is the church. The Iglesia de San Juan Bautista, or San Juan Bautista Church, stands in the Parque de San Juan and features a beautifully ornate Baroque facade.

Built between 1769 and 1770 on the site of a 17th-century chapel, this historic church reflects traditional Mexican architecture while lending its name to the surrounding park.

Arco de San Juan

On the southern side of the park, the "Arco de San Juan" can be seen, a brick arch that used to indicate the end of the white man's city and the beginning of the Indian quarter. Due to colonization, Mérida has many of such characteristic features of a Spanish city.

It is one of the three old colonial arches that mark the boundaries of old Mérida and dates from the late 17th century. The San Juan arch stands as the city's most significant gateway.

Its reconstruction took place in 1790 under the administration of Lucas de Gálvez y Montes de Oca. The inscription on the plaque of the arch reads:

"In the Year 1790, thanks to the direct involvement, zeal, and wise policies of the Governor Captain General of this Province, Don Lucas de Gálvez, he was able to ignite the generous support of the people, who were lovers of the shared advantages of freedom, and in whose name the funds for the opening and construction were provided."

A small sculpture of St. Juan stands in a niche in the middle of the arch. Today, the famous arch (together with the colorful house facades) is a popular photo motif. It is also the best preserved (respectively restored) old arch of the city.

Image Source (park): ©Sharon Hahn Darlin, flickr, CC BY 2.0, Link

Image Source (arch): ©Sharon Hahn Darlin, flickr, CC BY 2.0, Link

Image Source (church): ©jesus cruz martinez, wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

The picture was modified (image improvements, size)