a gate in the Convento de San Antonio de Padua, in Izamal, the yellow city
The reason we were late in Chichen Itza was our decision to visit Izamal on the way, and have lunch there. Izamal is known as the Ciudad Amarillo – the Yellow City -, and as soon as you enter, it is obvious why. All the houses, many of which are probably of colonial origin, have been painted yellow and white, like the convent that dominates the town. This is the Convento de San Antonio de Padua, built by the Franciscans between 1553 and 1562, once again on the ruins of a Maya temple. The convent’s church is not particularly beautiful, the frescos on the outside next to the entrance are faded and poorly visible, and the convent itself cannot be visited, as it is still populated by nuns. But the main attraction of the structure is its size, especially the size of its forecourt, which is apparently the second largest colonnaded courtyard in the world, second only to the Vatican.
really, the whole town has been painted yellow
a wooden window is allowed a white frame
the small Capilla de la Santa Cruz
more yellow, contrasting with the busy balcony
There is not much else to do in town, apart from a few smaller chapels and the Parque de Los Canones – and in any case, we haven’t got time, we need to move on to Chichen Itza. But good for some nice pictures.
and the huge Convento de San Antonio de Padua, at the main square
entrance to the the second largest colonnaded courtyard in the world
this is how the collonaded part of the courtyard looks
the convent is actively being used, still
and inside the convent, there is even something non-yellow!
