Templo Mayor

Why go

Postclassic period of Mesoamerica. The temple was called the huey teocalli in the Nahuatl language and dedicated simultaneously to two gods, Huitzilopochtli, god of war and Tlaloc, god of rain and agriculture, each of which had a shrine at the top of the pyramid with separate staircases. The temple, measuring approximately 100 by 80 m (330 by 260.

What to look for

• Notice how Templo Mayor relates to the surrounding streets and skyline.
• Look for surviving details that reveal the site's principal historical layer.

The full story

ft) at its base, dominated a Sacred Precinct. Construction of the first temple began in 1390, and it was rebuilt six times after that. The temple was destroyed by the Spanish in 1521. The modern-day archeological site lies just to the northeast of the Zocalo, or main plaza of Mexico City, on the corner of what are now Seminario and Justo Sierra streets. The site is part of the Historic Centre of Mexico City, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. Discovery and excavation After the destruction of Tenochtitlan, the Templo Mayor, like most of the rest of the city, was taken apart and then covered over by the new Spanish colonial city. The Temple’s exact location was forgotten, although by the 20th century scholars had a good idea where to look for it. This was based on the archeological work done at the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th. In the first decades of the 20th century, Manuel Gamio.

Useful to know

• Allow enough time to see Templo Mayor and its immediate setting without rushing.
• Check current official access information before entering any managed interior.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.