Mérida: Mexico's Most Underrated Design Destination

Mérida does not announce itself. A first walk through the centre often leaves visitors slightly puzzled. The streets are low-rise. The colours, while rich, are not theatrical. There is no cathedral square that resolves the city's identity in one image. For travellers arriving with the expectation of an obvious tourist set-piece, Mérida's first hour can register as quiet to the point of underwhelming.