Museums and Theatres

Museums are an excellent way of exploring the magical world of Campeche’s Mayan civilization. Exhibitions describing the historic, pre-Hispanic and colonial aspects of the town, collections of objects recovered from archaeological sites and paintings are just some of the relics found in the Dr. Román Piña Chan Museum of Stela, the Museum of Mayan Culture, the San Miguel Fort, the Museum of Boats and Weapons and the Museum of the Royal Road to Hecelchakán.

The mansion of the king’s lieutenant

The mansion of the king’s lieutenant, built in the 18th century, houses a permanent exhibition of viceregal art showing the customs of the time.

The Camino Real de Hecelchakán Museum

The displays in this museum, located in an old mansion with low, iron-railed windows, include beautiful Mayan figures, ceramics from the island of Jaina and drawings showing the customs and ways of living of this pre Hispanic civilization.

The Dr. Román Piña Chan Stele Museum

Located in the old de la Soledad fortification, this museum contains objects found at various archeological sites in the state. The main objects are Mayan steles from Acanmul, Cayal, Edzná, Xcalumkín, Xcocha and Xculoc. Steles are medium sized blocks carved out of stone or rock.

The Mayan Culture Museum

Housed within the old San Miguel Fortress, this museum contains objects from pre Hispanic and colonial times in Campeche. These include ceramics and jade masks found at nearby archeological sites, furniture, paintings, and common, household articles of the times of the Viceroys.

The Ships and Weapons Museum

The old San José el Alto fortress has been turned into an interesting museum. Its illustrations, maps, and paintings allow visitors to understand the layout and characteristics of the fortified city of Campeche. The objects on display include weapons, models of ships of the colonial era and items traded in those times.