MEL House & Garden Tour: Holiday Break

The Mérida English Library’s popular House and Garden Tours takes a holiday break today, but resume next week.

Normally, they are 9 a.m.-noon every Tuesday, November through March. See what is behind those closed doors in the historic center.

This is a guided walking tour, showcasing homes and gardens of various styles, sizes, and ages, all located within a 10-15-minute walk of the Merida English Library, Calle 53 between 66 and 68.

Tickets are 150 pesos for MEL members and their guests; 250 pesos for non-members.

All proceeds benefit the Merida English Library.

More about the tour

The city of Mérida has the third-largest collection of colonial homes in Latin America, surpassed only by the historic centers of Havana and Mexico City. These centuries-old residential treasures are being rescued from ruin as Mérida’s El Centro enjoys a renaissance.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the library. There is plenty of time to mingle and relax under the tree-shaded patio at the rear of the library.

At 9:30 a.m., MEL volunteers present an informative orientation to give you a unique perspective about the region and its properties.

At 10 a.m., the walking tour departs.

Each week, there are more homes from a variety of eras, including many from the Colonial and Art Deco periods. From modest to mansion, colonial ruins to modern masterpieces, under construction and fully renovated, it is obvious how the expatriate community is contributing to the restoration of Mérida’s historic downtown.

Participants should wear suitable walking shoes, as sidewalks in Centro have uneven surfaces.

The tour concludes around noon.

For repeat guests, MEL makes a concerted effort to rotate properties so that they won’t see the same house twice.

MEL is always looking for new volunteers to organize or lead the tours. Contact Andrea Slusser at aslusserlaw@gmail.com for information.

In addition, to place your Centro home for consideration, contact Evonne von Boeck at evoboeck@gmail.com. or Tita Sokoloff at titasokoloff@gmail.com.