Izamal's Cultural Center

Izamal, the yellow city that is one of Mexico's 25 Magical Towns (Pueblos Magicos has something new to boast about- the Centro Cultural y Artesanal that was inaugurated on March 23 of this year.

Conveniently located right across from the Main Square near the Convent, this new Centro Cultural is something Izamal has needed for some time now. And thanks to Grupo Plan and their vision of promoting the artisans and handcrafts of the region and Mexico as a whole through the Fomento Cultural Banamex, you will find eleven rooms of incredible, breath taking handcrafts from all over Mexico, a shop with many finer crafts, a cafe coffee shop and their new spa. This space was founded with the intent of helping the rural artisans promote and sell their goods.

Stone, paper, clay, wood, silver, textiles, vegetable fibers and bull horn are the mediums in which the incredible crafts are worked.

Hand-embroidered cross stitched huipiles and hand towels, silver filigree necklaces, earrings, bracelets and brooches, bull horn picture frames, letter openers and miniature boxes, chairs and hair combs, fiber or crocheted hammocks, sisal handbags, pillows and more are some of the finer things your will see in the shop.

To visit the permanent collection Grandes Maestros del Arte Popular Mexicano (the Grand Masters of Popular Mexican Art) at the Centro Cultural is to take a whorl wind trip throughout Mexico! Throughout the museum you will find holders with laminated sheets of paper explaining the crafts. Explanations are in English and Spanish.

The building that houses this Cultural Center is a colonial one that once housed the local ice cream parlor and popsicle shop. Frescos on the walls and arches between the second and third rooms pay homage to this point in the houses life.

Very-near-in-the-future plans include a much needed cafe/cafeteria and a spa where the Izamaleñas therapists will do wonders on your feet, back and body in general. The center courtyard of the building will be the perfect spot for the cafe. As we go to print, the palm trees are planted and the stone work floor is receiving finishing touches.

www.fundacionhaciendas.com

To read in Spanish click here

Visit our maps:
 Map of Izamal
 Map of Yucatan

Read more about art in the Yucatan:
 Anthropological Museum
 Art Galleries
Casa de los Artistas
 La Luz Gallery
 Museums
 Mayan art
 Sculptures
 Handcrafts
The Calle 60 Stroll