The unique and relatively isolated city of Campeche exudes an aura of swashbuckling romance. Once completely walled to fend off marauding pirates, it remains a quiet, seventeenth century elegance unmatched by other colonial cities. There are several interesting museums to explore, but by far the most spectacular attraction is the city itself.

An ongoing renovation of downtown facades transforms Campeche into a living museum of colonial and republican-era architecture. Since 1987, hundreds of structures have been restored in delicious tones of pale yellow, earthen brown, celery and dill green, deep gold, and ocher red.

Within the compact city centre, the neoclassic Catedral de la Concepcion Inmaculada incorporates renaissance elements. The piece de resistance of rather simple cathedral is the brilliant Holy Sepulchre of carved ebony covered in miniature stamped silver angels and icons tucked in the small, interior museum.