Izamal
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Izamal | ||
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INEGI Code 310400001[3] | | |
Website | www |
Izamal (Spanish: .
Izamal was continuously occupied throughout most of
Pre-Columbian Izamal
Izamal is an important
The city was founded during the Late Formative Period (750–200 BC) and was continuously occupied until the Spanish Conquest. The most important constructive activity stage spans between Protoclassic (200 BC – 200 AD) and Late Classic (600–800 AD). It was partially abandoned with the rise of Chichen Itza in the Terminal Classic (800–1000 A.D.) until the end of the Precolumbian era, when Izamal was considered a site of pilgrimages in the region, rivaled only by Chichen Itza. Its principal temples were sacred to the creator deity Itzamna and to the Sun god Kinich Ahau.
Five huge Pre-Columbian structures are still easily visible at Izamal (and two from some distance away in all directions). The first is a great pyramid to the Maya Sun god, Kinich Kak Moo (macaw of the solar fire face) with a base covering over 2 acres (8,000 m2) of ground and a volume of some 700,000 cubic meters. Atop this grand base is a pyramid of ten levels. To the south-east lies another great temple, called Itzamatul, and placed at the south of what was a main plaza, another huge building, called Ppap Hol Chak, was partially destroyed with the construction of a Franciscan temple during the 16th century.
The south-west side of the plaza is partially limited by another pyramid, the Hun Pik Tok, and in the west lie the remains of the temple known as Kabul, where a great stucco mask still existed on one side as recently as the 1840s, as seen in a colored lithograph after a drawing by Frederick Catherwood. All these large man-made mounds probably were built up over several centuries and originally supported city palaces and temples. Other important residential buildings which have been restored and can be visited are Xtul (The Rabbit), Habuc and Chaltun Ha.
After more than a decade of archaeological work done by Mexican archaeologists at Izamal, over 163 archaeologically important structures have been found there, and thousands of residential structures at surrounding communities have been located.
Spanish Colonial era
After the
Izamal was the first chair of the
Modern history
The town of Izamal was first granted the status of city by the government of Yucatán on 4 December 1841. On 13 August 1923 it was demoted to town status. It regained its status as a city on 1 December 1981.[4]
For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, the
Pope John Paul II visited Izamal in August 1993, where he performed a mass and presented the statue of the Virgin with a silver crown.[7]
Present day
Izamal remains a place of pilgrimage within the state of
The Yucatec Maya language is still heard at least as much as Spanish in Izamal. It is the first language in the homes of the majority of the people. Most signs are in both languages.
Major Fiestas are held in Izamal on April 3, May 3, August 15, and December 8.
Izamal is the home of a distillery which produces an eponymous mezcal from the hearts of the locally grown agave plants.
Izamal was named a "
Geography
Climate
Climate data for Izamal | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.1 (86.2) |
31.3 (88.3) |
33.2 (91.8) |
35.2 (95.4) |
35.7 (96.3) |
34.7 (94.5) |
33.8 (92.8) |
33.7 (92.7) |
33.7 (92.7) |
32.3 (90.1) |
31 (88) |
30.4 (86.7) |
32.9 (91.2) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 17.0 (62.6) |
17 (63) |
18.5 (65.3) |
20.2 (68.4) |
21.5 (70.7) |
22.1 (71.8) |
21.7 (71.1) |
21.9 (71.4) |
21.8 (71.2) |
20.6 (69.1) |
19.3 (66.7) |
18 (64) |
20 (68) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 38 (1.5) |
30 (1.2) |
20 (0.8) |
23 (0.9) |
81 (3.2) |
140 (5.6) |
130 (5.2) |
160 (6.4) |
190 (7.4) |
97 (3.8) |
33 (1.3) |
30 (1.2) |
980 (38.5) |
Source: Weatherbase [10] |
Gallery
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Main arcade of convent and church entrance
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The placid streets of Izamal
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Monastery facade
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Arcade with pyramid in background
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Convent as viewed from atop Kinich Kak Mo pyramid
References
- ^ Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (2005). "Principales resultados por localidad (ITER)". Archived from the original on 2011-07-22.
- ^ Alternativo Networks, Inc. "Buscador de Códigos Postales en México" (in Spanish). Retrieved November 21, 2010.
- ^ INEGI. "Archivo Histórico de Localidades. Izamal" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
- ^ INAFED. Archived from the originalon 10 July 2022.
- ^ ISBN 9786070275869.
- ^ "Izamal, la ciudad amarilla yucateca". Diario de Yucatán (in Spanish). 13 January 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ "Yucatan News: Izamal's Favorite Pope". Yucatanliving.com. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ "Casinos unter die Lupe genommen – Das Mummysgold Casino – sicher, kompetent und vertrauensvoll". Colonial-mexico.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2006. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ "HISTORY OF IZAMAL". Izamal.info. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Izamal, Yucatán". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
External links
- Izamal travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Izamal's monastery on colonial-mexico.com with photos and a map of the center of town
- Izamal by Yucatan Today
- Izamal Photo Essay