Editing Izamal

{{Short description|City in the Mexican state of Yucatán}}
{{about||the municipality|Izamal Municipality|the station|Izamal railway station}}
{{refimprove|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name     = Izamal
|settlement_type   = [[City]]
|nickname          = The Yellow City, The City of Three Cultures
|motto             =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline     = Izamal collage.jpg
|imagesize         = 
|image_caption     = 
|image_flag        = 
|image_seal        =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map         = Izamal Municipality Yucatan Izamal Highlighted.svg
|map_caption       = Location of Izamal, Yucatan
|image_map1        = 
|mapsize1          = 
|map_caption1      =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = [[Mexico]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[Political divisions of Mexico|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Yucatán (state)|Yucatán]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[Municipalities of Yucatán|Municipality]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Izamal Municipality|Izamal]]
|established_title      = City Founded
|established_date       = December 4, 1841

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref  =  Metric
|area_footnotes           = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           =

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[INEGI]], 2005
|population_footnotes     =<ref name="INEGI">{{Cite web|url=http://www.inegi.org.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/default.asp?s=est&c=10395 |title=Principales resultados por localidad (ITER) |year=2005 |author=Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722200612/http://www.inegi.org.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/default.asp?s=est&c=10395 |archive-date=2011-07-22 }}</ref>
|population_total         = 15101
|population_density_km2   = 
|population_blank1_title  = 
|population_blank1        =

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Time in Mexico|Central]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 13
|coordinates              = {{coord|20|55|53|N|89|01|04|W|region:MX_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 97540<ref>{{Cite web|title=Buscador de Códigos Postales en México |url=http://tucodigo.com.mx/index.php?b_query=busq&busq=Izamal |author=Alternativo Networks, Inc. |access-date= November 21, 2010 |language=es}}</ref>
|area_code                = 988
|blank_name_sec1        = [[INEGI]] Code
|blank_info_sec1        = 310400001<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archivo Histórico de Localidades. Izamal |url=http://mapserver.inegi.org.mx/AHL/realizaBusquedaurl.do?cvegeo=310400001 |author=INEGI |access-date=November 21, 2010 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722165043/http://mapserver.inegi.org.mx/AHL/realizaBusquedaurl.do?cvegeo=310400001 |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.izamal.gob.mx}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Izamal''' ({{IPA|es|isaˈmal|lang|Izamal Pronunciation.ogg}}) is a small city in the Mexican [[Yucatán (state)|state of Yucatán]], {{Convert|72|km|mi|abbr=}} east of state capital [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]], in southern [[Mexico]].

Izamal was continuously occupied throughout most of [[Mesoamerican chronology]]; in 2000, the city's estimated population was 15,000 people.  Izamal is known in Yucatán as the '''Yellow City''' (most of its buildings are painted yellow) and the '''City of Hills''' (that actually are the remains of ancient [[Mesoamerican pyramid|temple pyramids]]).

== Pre-Columbian Izamal ==
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2022}}
Izamal is an important [[archaeological site]] of the [[Pre-Columbian]] [[Maya civilization]]. It is probably the biggest city of the Northern Yucatec Plains, covering a minimal urban extension of {{convert|53|km2}}. Its monumental buildings exceed 1,000,000 cubic meters of constructive volume and at least two raised causeways, known by their Mayan term ''[[sacbe]]ob'', connect it with other important centers, Ruins of Ake, located {{convert|29|km}} to the west and Kantunil, 18 kilometers to the south, evidencing the religious, political and economic power of this political unit over a territory of more than {{convert|5000|km2}} in extension. Izamal developed a particular constructive technique involving use of megalithic carved blocks, with defined architectonical characteristics like rounded corners, projected mouldings and thatched roofs at superstructures, which also appeared in other important urban centers within its hitherland, such as Ake, Uci and Dzilam.

The city was founded during the Late Formative Period (750–200 BC) and was continuously occupied until the Spanish Conquest. The most important constructive activity stage spans between Protoclassic (200 BC – 200 AD) and Late Classic (600–800 AD). It was partially abandoned with the rise of [[Chichen Itza]] in the Terminal Classic (800–1000 A.D.) until the end of the Precolumbian era, when Izamal was considered a site of [[pilgrimage]]s in the region, rivaled only by Chichen Itza. Its principal temples were sacred to the creator deity [[Itzamna]] and to the [[Sun]] god [[Kinich Ahau]].

Five huge Pre-Columbian structures are still easily visible at Izamal (and two from some distance away in all directions). The first is a great pyramid to the Maya Sun god, [[:es:Kinich_Kakmó|Kinich Kak Moo]] (macaw of the solar fire face) with a base covering over 2 acres (8,000 m<sup>2</sup>) of ground and a volume of some 700,000 cubic meters.  Atop this grand base is a pyramid of ten levels.  To the south-east lies another great temple, called Itzamatul, and placed at the south of what was a main plaza, another huge building, called Ppap Hol Chak, was partially destroyed with the construction of a Franciscan temple during the 16th century. [[File:Izamal Catherwood Jaguar.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Izamal, colossal Maya stucco head set in a wall, after Catherwood]] The south-west side of the plaza is partially limited by another pyramid, the Hun Pik Tok, and in the west lie the remains of the temple known as Kabul, where a great stucco mask still existed on one side as recently as the 1840s, as seen in a colored lithograph after a drawing by [[Frederick Catherwood]]. All these large man-made mounds probably were built up over several centuries and originally supported city palaces and temples. Other important residential buildings which have been restored and can be visited are Xtul (The Rabbit), Habuc and Chaltun Ha.

After more than a decade of archaeological work done by Mexican archaeologists at Izamal, over 163 archaeologically important structures have been found there, and thousands of residential structures at surrounding communities have been located.

==Spanish Colonial era==
After the [[Spanish conquest of Yucatán]] in the 16th century, a Spanish colonial city was founded atop the existing Maya one. However, due to the immense effort required to level the two massive structures, the Spanish opted to place a small [[Christianity|Christian]] temple atop the great pyramid and construct a large [[Franciscan]] Monastery on the acropolis. It was named after [[Anthony of Padua|San Antonio de Padua]]. Completed in 1561, the open atrium of the Monastery is still today second in size only to that at the [[Vatican City|Vatican]]. Most of the cut stone from the Pre-Columbian city was reused to build the Spanish churches, monastery, and surrounding buildings.

Izamal was the first seat of the [[Bishop of Yucatán|Bishops of Yucatán]] before they were moved to Mérida.  The fourth Bishop of Yucatán, [[Diego de Landa]] lived here.

==Modern history==
The town of Izamal was first granted the status of city by the government of Yucatán on 4 December 1841. On 13 August 1923 it was demoted to town status. It regained its status as a city on 1 December 1981.<ref name=encyclopedia>{{cite web |url=http://www.inafed.gob.mx/work/enciclopedia/EMM31yucatan/municipios/31040a.html |title=Izamal |language=es |website=Enciclopedia de los Municipios y Delegaciones de México |publisher=[[INAFED]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710031952/http://www.inafed.gob.mx/work/enciclopedia/EMM31yucatan/municipios/31040a.html |archive-date=10 July 2022}}</ref>

For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, the [[henequen]] industry formed the basis of Izamal's economy. When that industry declined in the 1960s, the municipal and state government began efforts to turn Izamal into a tourist destination, transforming the city's appearance in the process.<ref name=estrella>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Izamal, Yucatán. ¿Tradición o invención? |encyclopedia=Pueblos mágicos: Una visión interdisciplinaria |year=2015 |language=es |last=Estrella Pozo |first=Juan Antonio |pages=45–62 |publisher=[[Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana|UAM]] Xochimilco, [[National Autonomous University of Mexico|UNAM]] |location=Mexico |isbn=9786070275869}}</ref> Izamal's buildings owe their distinctive color scheme to Jorge Carlos González Rodríguez, mayor of Izamal from 1959 to 1961,<ref name=encyclopedia/> who ordered the removal of the commercial signs that blighted the facades and rooftops of many buildings at the time, and the painting of those buildings in yellow and white.<ref name=estrella/><ref>{{cite news |date=13 January 2020 |url=https://www.yucatan.com.mx/editorial/2020/1/13/izamal-la-ciudad-amarilla-yucateca-161459.html |title=Izamal, la ciudad amarilla yucateca |language=es |newspaper=[[Diario de Yucatán]] |access-date=29 May 2023}}</ref> In 1965, [[Governor of Yucatán]] [[Luis Torres Mesías]] ordered the demolition of several buildings surrounding the San Antonio de Padua convent. He and his successor [[Carlos Loret de Mola Mediz]] also oversaw the conversion of Plaza Zamná from a public market into a park.<ref name=estrella/>

[[Pope John Paul II]] visited Izamal in August 1993, where he performed a mass and presented the statue of the Virgin with a silver crown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yucatanliving.com/news/yucatan-news-izamals-favorite-pope|title=Yucatan News: Izamal's Favorite Pope|website=Yucatanliving.com|access-date=14 October 2017}}</ref>

==Present day==
Izamal remains a place of pilgrimage within the state of [[Yucatán (state)|Yucatán]], now for the veneration of [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] [[saint]]s.  Several saints statues at Izamal are said to perform [[miracle]]s. An early colonial era statue of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception ("Our Lady of Izamal") is particularly venerated, and is the state's patron saint.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colonial-mexico.com/Yucatan/izamal.html|title=Casinos unter die Lupe genommen – Das Mummysgold Casino – sicher, kompetent und vertrauensvoll|website=Colonial-mexico.com|access-date=14 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018202743/http://www.colonial-mexico.com/Yucatan/izamal.html|archive-date=18 October 2006}}</ref>

The [[Yucatec Maya language]] is still heard at least as much as Spanish in Izamal. It is the first language in the homes of the majority of the people. Most signs are in both languages.

Major Fiestas are held in Izamal on April 3, May 3, August 15, and December 8.

Izamal is the home of a distillery which produces an eponymous [[mezcal]] from the hearts of the locally grown [[agave]] plants.

Izamal was named a "[[Pueblos Mágicos (Mexico)|Pueblo Mágico]]" in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.izamal.info/english/history-of-izamal/|title=HISTORY OF IZAMAL|website=Izamal.info|access-date=14 October 2017|archive-date=15 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015150115/https://www.izamal.info/english/history-of-izamal/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Geography==
===Climate===
<div style="width:75%">
{{Weather box
|location = Izamal
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan high F = 86.2
|Feb high F = 88.3
|Mar high F = 91.8
|Apr high F = 95.4
|May high F = 96.3
|Jun high F = 94.5
|Jul high F = 92.8
|Aug high F =92.7
|Sep high F = 92.7
|Oct high F = 90.1
|Nov high F =88
|Dec high F = 86.7
|year high F = 91.2
|Jan low F = 62.6
|Feb low F = 63
|Mar low F = 65.3
|Apr low F = 68.4
|May low F = 70.7
|Jun low F = 71.8
|Jul low F = 71.1
|Aug low F = 71.4
|Sep low F = 71.2
|Oct low F = 69.1
|Nov low F = 66.7
|Dec low F = 64
|year low F = 68
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.5
|Feb precipitation inch =1.2
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.8
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.9
|May precipitation inch = 3.2
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.6
|Jul precipitation inch = 5.2
|Aug precipitation inch = 6.4
|Sep precipitation inch = 7.4
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.8
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.3
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.2
|year precipitation inch = 38.5
|source 1 = Weatherbase <ref name=Weatherbase>
{{cite web
|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=931015&refer=wikipedia |title =Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Izamal, Yucatán
|publisher=Weatherbase
|year=2011
}}
Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
</ref>
|date=November 2011
}}
</div>

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
Image:ConventodeIzamalYucatan.jpg|Main arcade of convent and church entrance
Image:Izamal_Streets.JPG|The placid streets of Izamal
Image:Izamal.JPG|Monastery facade
Image:IzamalArcade.jpg|Arcade with pyramid in background
Image:IzamalConvent.jpg|Convent as viewed from atop Kinich Kak Mo pyramid
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Izamal}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Izamal}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061018202743/http://www.colonial-mexico.com/Yucatan/izamal.html Izamal's monastery on colonial-mexico.com] with photos and a map of the center of town
* [http://yucatantoday.com/en/topics/izamal Izamal by Yucatan Today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501181156/http://yucatantoday.com/en/topics/izamal |date=2013-05-01 }}
* [http://yucatan.for91days.com/izamal-the-yellow-city/ Izamal Photo Essay]

{{Izamal Municipality, Yucatan}}
{{Yucatán}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Maya sites in Yucatán]]
[[Category:Maya sites that survived the end of the Classic Period]]
[[Category:Populated places in Yucatán]]
[[Category:Pueblos Mágicos]]
[[Category:National Monuments of Mexico]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1st millennium BC]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Mexico]]
[[Category:World Heritage Tentative List for Mexico]]