In colonial times, the division between the races was very marked. There were indigenous neighborhoods, black neighborhoods, and of course the residential suburbs of white Spaniards, which were well removed from the others. The Paseo Montejo is a clear demonstration of exactly how the social classes were divided. Huge colonial-style mansions inhabited by wealthy landowners framed this avenue, the officials and businessmen who came to populate the first capital of Latin America. Many of these homes have been restored and converted into modern businesses like hotels, restaurants and banks, conserving the European-style facades. Take a carriage ride down Montejo Drive to see the beauty and splendor of Canton Palace or the Monument to the Homeland, and appreciate one of the places not to be missed on a visit the city of Merida.

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