While much of the peninsula is famed for its resorts,

雖然猶加敦半島大部分地區都是渡假村 並以此聞名

Meérida is the epicentre of Yucatan culture,

但梅里達是猶加敦文化、歷史與馬雅驕傲的

history, and, Mayan pride.

重心所在

At the city's heart is Plaza Grande.

大廣場是城市的中心

This relaxed square is surrounded by some of the city's most beautiful buildings,

這座氣氛悠閒的廣場，是由城市內一些最美麗的建築 所圍繞

many built from the sun-baked stones of the great Mayan temples which once stood here.

許多偉大的馬雅神廟曾佇立於此 而這些美麗的建築，有許多就是由神廟的石材建成

Facing the square is Merida's oldest building,

面對廣場的是梅里達最古老的建築

Casa de Montejo, built by the city's founding Conquistador.

蒙特荷之家 由征服城市的先鋒所建

Step inside the shady courtyards and lavish interiors of this residence,

走進樹蔭遮蔽的庭院，並欣賞 奢華的內部裝潢

home of the Montejo dynasty for over four centuries.

蒙特荷家族曾在此居住 超過 4 個世紀

Just across the square rises Mérida Cathedral,

廣場的另一端，則是梅里達大教堂

whose massive altarpiece symbolises the eventual reconciliation

教堂內龐大的祭壇裝飾，象徵著 馬雅人與西班牙人之間

between the Maya and the Spanish peoples.

最終達成的大和解

Right next door,

而在教堂旁邊

discover modern sculptures, at the Contemporary Art Museum,

就是展出現代雕塑的 當代美術館

which proudly displays works by some of the region's most popular and thought-provoking artists.

館內壯觀的藝術作品，來自當地一些 最知名也最發人省思的藝術家

Radiating from Plaza Grande are pastel streets filled with architectural treasures and cool parks.

色彩繽紛的街道，以大廣場為中心向外延伸 街上滿是建築瑰寶與涼爽的公園

Just a block away, relax with locals in Hidalgo Park,

一個街區之外就是伊達爾戈公園，是當地人放鬆休息的去處

an oasis surrounded by cafes, restaurants and charming hotels.

公園是座由咖啡廳、餐廳與迷人飯店 所圍繞的綠洲

From here it's just a few steps to The Jose Peon Contreras Theatre,

離公園僅幾步之遙，就是 荷西裴隆康特拉斯劇院

the home of the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra.

這裡也是猶加敦交響樂團的根據地

In the late 1800s, Yucatan became the centre of henequen production,

19 世紀末期，猶加敦成為 龍舌蘭產品的產製中心

and Merida fast became one of the world's wealthiest cities.

梅里達因此快速晉身為 世界上最富有的城市之一

Take a walk up Paseo de Montejo,

在蒙特霍步道上散個步

an avenue inspired by the great boulevards of Paris,

這條大街的構想 來自華麗的巴黎大道

where Yucatan's elite built their stately homes.

猶加敦各界菁英的豪華宅邸，都坐落於此

Pay a visit to Casa Montes Molina,

不妨去一趟蒙特斯莫利納之家博物館

a mansion preserved down to its very last detail,

這座豪宅完整保存每一絲細節

and experience the scents and patinas of a bygone era.

繚繞室內的香氣、點綴傢俱的銅綠 帶您回到過往時光

Mérida is filled with windows into the past, including its many museums,

梅里達隨處可見的古蹟，宛如歷史之窗，讓我們得以一窺過去 而眾多博物館，也正是其中一扇歷史之窗

which cover everything from Yucatan song to the folk arts of Mexico.

從猶加敦民謠到墨西哥民俗藝術 這裡都找得到

Just a short walk south from Plaza Grande is the Museum of The City of Merida,

從大廣場往南步行幾分鐘 梅里達市立博物館就出現在眼前

which charts the rich and sometimes turbulent history of Yucatan's capital.

館內展出猶加敦首府多采多姿，但有時動盪不安的 過往歷史

Once the residence of a former governor and general,

坎頓宮殿曾是總督與將軍的宅邸

Palacio Cantón is now home to Yucatan's Anthropology and History Museum.

現在則是猶加敦的 人類學暨歷史博物館

While nearby, the Great Museum of the Mayan World

不遠之處，是馬雅世界博物館

creates a striking contrast to Mérida's historic streetscapes.

外表風格與梅里達 古色古香的街景形成強烈對比

The building was inspired by the form of the sacred ceiba tree,

建築靈感來自象徵神聖的 木棉樹外型

which the Maya believed was a bridge to the heavens and the underworld.

馬雅人相信，木棉樹是連結 天堂與地下世界的橋樑

Inside, its collections are the perfect gateway to a civilisation,

館內收藏是讓您通往馬雅文明大道的 最佳起點

which has long captured the imaginations of explorers and anthropologists.

長久以來，馬雅文明吸引著探險家與人類學家投以 無限的想像

One such adventurer was the Englishman, Frederick Catherwood.

其中一位探險家，是來自英國的 卡塞伍德

Step into the explorer's historic residence to see his lithographs of lost Mayan cities,

進入卡塞伍德的舊日居所 欣賞他所繪的失落馬雅城版畫

which when published in the 1800s,

這些作品出版於 19 世紀

created a sensation all over the world.

當時轟動全世界

When it's time to take your own Mayan adventure, hit the road.

當您展開馬雅探險之旅的時候到了 就動身吧

Just ten miles north of Mérida, are the Dzibilchaltun Ruins.

梅里達北邊十英哩之處 就是季比喬頓馬雅遺址

Or take the forty-minute drive south to Mayapan,

或是往南約 40 分鐘車程，前往馬雅潘

the Mayan capital from the 13th to the 15th centuries.

這裡是馬雅族 13 至 15 世紀的首都

The deeper you venture into Yucatan, the greater the reward.

您越深入探索猶加敦 收穫就越是精彩豐富

An hour's drive southwest from Mayapan are the hills of Puuc.

從馬雅潘出發，往西南方約 1 小時車程 即可抵達普克山

Here you'll find the incredibly ornate ruins of Uxmal,

您在這裡，將發現驚人且華美的 烏斯馬爾遺址

where the Pyramid of the Magician looms high above the expansive Governor's Palace.

魔術師金字塔從高處 俯視占地廣闊的總督宮

In Yucatan, all roads eventually lead to Chichén Itza,

在猶加敦，所有道路最終都會通向奇琴伊薩

the most famous of all the Mayan cities.

這座最有名的馬雅城市

Walk across the blood-soaked ball court, where opposing teams literally played for their lives.

走過曾沾滿鮮血的球場 由敵對者組成的球隊，在這裡以生命踢完每一場球賽

Wander through a forest of stone at the Court of a Thousand Columns.

漫步走過石柱密布的 千柱石林

Then, let your gaze climb the staircase of El Castillo,

然後，讓您的視線沿著卡斯蒂略金字塔的 階梯而上

and you'll soon appreciate why these ancient ruins are considered one of the world's great wonders.

您很快就會明白，為何人們讚嘆這些古老遺址 並將其名列為世界奇蹟

The heat and humidity of Yucatan can be fierce,

猶加敦的高溫與溼氣，可能會令人相當難受

so when the Mexican sun starts to climb,

也因此，當墨西哥的太陽升起時

escape underground into the incredible caves of Calcehtok.

就該躲進令人驚嘆的 卡爾塞托克洞穴了

The Yucatan Peninsula has also been blessed with an incredible network of over 6000 cenotes.

上天賜予猶加敦半島 超過 6000 個地下湧泉沉洞 (Cenote)，構成綿密水網

For the ancient Maya, these clear subterranean pools provided water for their cities.

對於古馬雅人來說，這些清澈的地下水池 提供了城市所需的水資源

And some, such as the Sacred Cenote of Chichén Itza,

而另有一些水池，像是奇琴伊察的 聖泉

were considered portals to the afterlife.

古馬雅人則將之視為通往來世的大門

Today, many of these cenotes are the perfect place to cool off.

現在，這些天然水池 是最棒的消暑聖地

But of course, there's nowhere better to wash away the Yucatan dust than back in Mérida,

當然，若要洗去猶加敦的塵土 沒有任何地方比得上梅里達

one of the most cultural, historic and coolest cities in all of Mexico.

這座深具文化與歷史氣息，同時也是最涼爽的 墨西哥城市