Campeche, Mexico’s historic walled city, capital of the State of Campeche and UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Campeche, full name San Francisco de Campeche, is an old port city on the Gulf of Mexico. It is known for its preserved Baroque colonial buildings and walled historic district.
San Francisco de Campeche was founded in 1540 by Francisco de Montejo upon the site of Can Pech.
Being a port city, it was constantly being attacked, so a fortified wall was built in 1686 with 8 bastions, 5 of which are still standing today, and 4 gates, 2 of which still stand today:
Baluarte de San Francisco, Campeche:
Low relief model of the walled city of Campeche:
While the Spanish lived within the walls, the locals lived in the barrios of Francisco, Guadalupe, and San Román.
Here is the Iglesia De Guadalupe:
Within the walled city, the Temple and Convent of San José, 1540, one of the oldest in the Americas:
And the Iglesia de San Roque y San Francisquito:
The Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepción, Santa Iglesia Catedral, in Campeche. Mexico’s walled city:
The walled port city of Campeche, considered safe up until that time, began to come under attack. In 1771, construction started on 2 forts, Fuerte de San José el Alto and the Fuerte de San Miguel.
Note the curved entry path at the Fuerte de San José, which stopped invaders from coming along with a battering ram. Not shown here is the moat, portcullis and drawbridge:
Nomadic Backpacker at the Fuerte de San José el Alto:
Fuerte de San José el Alto:
Fuerte de San José el Alto. Here you can see the moat and the hilltop location in relation to the Gulf of Mexico:
Fuerte de San José el Alto. A great ‘panorama’ shot:
I was visiting in August 2021. It is hot and humid. Despite Campeche being UNESCO-listed, there was a waft of sewage in the air.
Everything gets pumped into the ocean and occasionally leaks up through the broken pipes into the street.
I stayed at the unlisted Hotel Reforma. As with all buildings in the walled city, they are damp and musty.
Calle 59 is the restaurant street. And on my first night, I had the traditional dish of Pan de Cazón.
“De la grastronomía Campachana por excelencia, tortilla salteada sobre una cama de firjol, relleno de cazón “tiburon” bañado en salsa de tomate y chille habanero asado”
Not suitable for vegetarians. Cazón is shark meat:
Backpacking in 33 degrees (feels like 41), is very thirsty work:
The Malecón in Campeche at night:
Some evenings they have a sound and light show on the malécon. So if you like Madonna or Michael Jackson, go check it out from 8 pm.
I stayed some days in Campeche, also visiting the Edzna Archaeological Site, 55 km from town:
