The confidente chair: a love legend or reality?

Painted pure white, with room for only two people… The confidente chair sits in every corner of Mérida for lovers to rest.

Do you know the love legend it hides?

Mérida is known for its rich history in Maya culture and tradition. It was built on the ruins of the ancient Maya city of Ichcanzihó and founded by Francisco de Montejo in 1542.

Today Mérida is a cosmopolitan city, set apart from other Mexican destinations by its high quality of life and safety. It also stands out for its street furniture, which includes a unique piece: the sillas “tú y yo” or sillas confidentes (“you and me” chairs, or confidente chairs).

These chairs are found all over Mérida. They are joined by their armrests on opposite sides, so when you sit down you face the other person. Painted white, they are usually used by lovers, friends or people who share a relationship.

The confidente chairs have become part of Yucatán’s culture and identity. They can be seen mainly in the Plaza Grande, where they were installed in 1915 during its remodelling.

But… what is the true origin, the legend behind this particular piece?

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The story of a legend

It is not known for certain why the “you and me” chairs were installed in Mérida. What is known is that they were inspired by the tête-à-tête or vis-à-vis model, a 19th-century favourite.

The serpentine, S-shaped form of the chair encourages two people to face each other and start a conversation. Designed in the 19th century, the tête-à-tête — besides being ideal for conversation — let couples look at each other without touching.

Over the centuries, this piece has taken many turns and inspired many interpretations. Even Salvador Dalí made a surrealist version of the confidente chairs.

In Mérida, its installation was probably driven by the French fashion that dominated the city in the early 20th century — a concrete example being the great mansions built on the Paseo de Montejo during the region’s economic boom thanks to henequen.

A love legend or reality?

Beyond fashions, the origin of these chairs in Mérida is not very clear, so their appearance is the subject of various stories. The most popular relates to jealousy and love.

Legend says there was once a very overprotective father in Mérida. He had a daughter who was starting to see a young man in love with her. The father — very wealthy and jealous — only allowed the young couple’s meetings to take place in the park. And so there would be no physical contact between them, he came up with the idea of installing this kind of facing chairs.

Legend or reality, the fact is that today the confidente chairs can be seen at different points in the city and have become an icon of Mérida.

A new version of the confidente chair in Santa Lucía

Finally, like the giant “Mérida” letters you see in several Mexican cities, the famous confidente chairs have tripled in size, and in Santa Lucía park you can enjoy a colossal version.

Yes, giant designs have been built! Photographed endlessly and enjoyed by hundreds of people who dare to climb up for the best postcard, they are made of fibreglass and stand 2.4 metres tall.

Did you already know the story of the confidente chair in Mérida?

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