Majestic “Casa de Montejo” right on Mérida’s Plaza Grande is up for sale

Who will be able to buy the historic house in Yucatán?

Mérida, Yucatán.- On Tuesday, the U.S. bank Citigroup announced that it will close its commercial banking operations in Mexico and put the Banamex brand and license up for sale, so all of Banamex’s cultural heritage would be in the sale package, which includes the Casa de Montejo in Yucatán.

In a videoconference, Alberto Gómez Alcalá, corporate director of institutional development and communication of Citibanamex, explained that what would be sold is everything that does not have to do with institutional banking or what in Mexico is known as corporate banking, that is, the largest clients, as well as investment banking, markets and brokerage firms.

What would be for sale, he pointed out, is the rest: the license, the brand, the branch operations, what has to do with cards, payroll business, mortgage portfolio, family and business credit, the equity part, the afore, the insurance company, and even the foundations and the cultural heritage it has.

History of the Casa de Montejo in Mérida

According to the Museo Casa Montejo website, the building was constructed in the 16th century and is the only example of a civilian Renaissance-style house in Mexico.

In 1526, the Spanish Crown gave Francisco Montejo “El Adelantado” a capitulation or exclusive privilege for the conquest of the Yucatán, and thanks to the services rendered by him to the Crown he was conferred the title and office in perpetuity of Adelantado of Yucatán.

It is believed that the Montejo house began to be built immediately after the foundation of the city of Merida, between 1542 and 1549.

The residence of Francisco de Montejo “El Adelantado” was built and inhabited by his son Francisco de Montejo “El Mozo”, who was in charge of its construction, decoration and maintenance.

Although the house was commissioned by his father, he would never live in the property he had destined as “Casa de los Conquistadores” completed in 1549.

TYT Newsroom