Yucatán's Yaxcabá legends and Mérida art gallery highlight local cultural heritage

The municipality of Yaxcabá in eastern Yucatán, dubbed “the land of the witches,” attracts visitors from Puebla, Tabasco and Veracruz seeking its long‑standing tales of black magic, a hidden treasure and a mysterious cenote. Residents speak of historic figures such as Claudio Padilla Loría and a “house of a thousand columns” linked to the Castas war, while local authorities have yet to develop the site as a tourist draw.

Near the La Ermita neighbourhood of Mérida, the “Arte y Más” gallery preserves Yucatán’s memory by repurposing century‑old wood, furniture and a 100‑year‑old wood‑cut printing press. Artists create oil paintings of local fauna and legends, and craft handcrafted frames, allowing visitors to purchase a piece of the region’s history and hear stories of old haciendas.

Both sites illustrate how Yucatán’s folklore and artisanal art continue to engage tourists and sustain cultural identity.