Centro Cultural de Mérida Olimpo

Centro Cultural de Mérida Olimpo Review

Referred to as simply Olimpo, this is the best venue in town for free cultural events. The beautiful porticoed cultural center was built adjacent to City Hall in late 1999, occupying what used to be a parking lot. The marble interior is a showcase for top international art exhibits, classical-music concerts, conferences, and theater and dance performances. The adjoining 1950s-style movie house shows classic art films by directors like Buñuel, Fellini, and Kazan. There's also a planetarium with 90-minute shows explaining the solar system ($3, Tuesday through Saturday at 6 pm and Sunday at 11, noon, and 6; be sure to be there 15 minutes early, since nobody is allowed to sneak in once the show has begun). Next door there's a bookstore, and a wonderful cybercafé-restaurant.