'Unidad Deportiva Tamanche' hosts the Merida Football (Soccer) Club while its home stadium Estadio Carlos Iturralde is undergoing renovation. The location is also the team's training facility. Merida F.C. currently plays in the second tier of the Mexican football league. Merida, the capital of Yucatan and the Yucatan Peninsula, is located 22 miles (35 km) from the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. With average high temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius), Merida is a picturesque, colonial town whose 16th through 19th century architecture is still standing. The city prospered in the early 20th century from the production of sisal, plant fibers used to make rope and twine. At the time, Merida was believed to have more millionaires than any city in the world. Many elaborate mansions from the period are still standing, serving as offices for banks and businesses. Merida today is the cultural and financial center of the Yucatan Peninsula, and currently undergoing a renaissance. Older buildings and homes are being restored to their former splendor, and new construction is booming. There are several museums, art galleries, restaurants, movie theaters and boutique shops. In addition to beautiful colonial architecture, there is a wide range of modern construction, including 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels. In 2009, five new hotels are completing construction. In 2007 and 2008, five new shopping malls opened. Every year a major exhibit of contemporary outdoor sculpture is featured on the Paseo de Montejo, a famous street in downtown Merida. The Mayan culture is evident daily in speech and dress, particularly on the city's most popular holiday, Day of the Dead on November 1 and 2. Yucatan food is uniquely different than traditional 'Mexican food,' with influences from the Mayans, as well as European, Middle Eastern and Caribbean cultures. Merida's prestigious medical facilities are among the best in Mexico.
