Mérida’s former bishopry, known today as the Ateneo Peninsular, is about to get a major overhaul.
The Ateneo, as it is most often referred to by locals, will be converted into a new museum dedicated to the history of the Yucatán.
One of the first exhibits to open is slated to be a series of artifacts excavated during the construction of the Tren Maya.
The complex is also slated to have a bookstore, as well as shops dedicated to the sale of high-quality handcrafts.
The project to revive the Ateneo is being spearheaded by the federal government as part of several infrastructure projects funded by the Tren Maya fund.
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In 1915 the former bishopry closed its doors, giving way to a renovation project which gave the Ateno the french inspired look it is today known for.
Since the mid-1990s, the Ateneo has hosted Yucatán’s contemporary art museum or MACAY. Though the museum temporarily closed back in 2021 due to budget cuts, it is now open again, though at reduced hours from 10 AM to 2 PM, except for Wednesdays and Sundays.
The federal government has given an inauguration date for the reopening of the Ateneo, but given that federal elections are to be held next year, it is likely that works will be complete by 2024.
