Casa Chapell is a large, elegant home located in Merida’s historic center and offering beautiful spaces both indoors and outdoors. Literally around the corner from the new park at La Plancha with its walking trails and lakes, it is also located one block from the colonial Mejorada park and 1/2 block from Merida’s beautifully renovated 1920’s train station. Around the park you will find the museum of folk art and the museum of Yucatecan music, as well as the colonial church and convent that give the park its name. The Chem Bech market is nearby and fruit and juice vendors abound in the local neighborhood.
Relax in the light filled front living room complete with soaring 18 foot French Tile ceilings, original pasta tiled floors, air conditioning and garden views from all lower rooms. Enjoy the cool evening breeze in the cozy and comfortable library which is located on the ground level next to the interior garden. There is no better space for unwinding with a good book or researching for your next outing.
The master bedroom has a queen sized bed, overhead fan and air conditioning, as well as a large ensuite bath with double sinks, shower and bidet. It also features a view of the intriguing interior garden through 12 foot antique doors.
Brew your morning coffee in the spacious and well equipped kitchen. Look out past the decorative iron doors towards the back garden and pool. A second bathroom is located in the garden area adjacent to the pool.
Upstairs are two additional bedrooms, one with a queen sized bed, overhead fan and air conditioning and the second with twin beds and an overhead fan. The upstairs bedrooms share a complete bath, TV room and a private lounging terrace overlooking the main garden and pool.
The gardens of this home are truly incredible but also serve to lighten its footprint in addition to the home’s solar power system. Tropical plants and flowers thrive in this home and even include oregano, coffee, citrus and other exotics. The filtered pool is tucked away at the rear of the garden creating an idyllic place for true relaxation.
A Little History
The home was built at end of the 19th century for a Spanish family. Don José, who grew up in the home and now lives across the street, tells the story of his “tio abuelo” who emigrated first to New York and then to Havana. The young waiter so impressed Yucatán’s visiting governor that while serving him his morning “cafecito” he was recruited for a job in Mérida’s booming henequen industry.
At the time, this neighborhood was the epicenter of the henequen trade. Henequen was transported by narrow gauge rail to the main train station just south of the home. From there the fiber bales were shipped to the north coast port of Progreso for export or stored in warehouses flanking the trainyard. Cordilerías or spinning mills cropped up around the neighborhood to transform the raw fiber into rope and string, including one next door to the home which was owned by Don José´s father.
Getting Around
Located on the edge of the city’s colonial center, the home is convenient to restaurants, shopping, museums, galleries and parks. Merida’s new Parque La Plancha is around the corner Ana a few steps from there is the new Culinary Row on 47. The home is also a short stroll from the plazas of Santa Ana and Santa Lucia with their parks, restaurants, galleries, and shops. Merida’s main plaza (zocalo) is 7 blocks away and features one of the New World’s oldest cathedrals and a vibrant park surrounded by colonial shopping and restaurant hub. On weekends, the plaza area becomes a pedestrian zone with sidewalk restaurants, strolling musicians, and live music.
