Chichen Itza Mexico - ancient Mayan city travel photo. Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan city in Mexico, where the famous pyramids and Mayan temples are located. The ancient city of Chichen Itza in which

Half past six in the morning. “When the alarm clock rings in the morning, I feel like I’m being shot...” So it seems to me, too, that I hear gunshots, and not a cute pop tune trying to wake me up. Why so early? Why... Exactly! Today we are going to Chichen Itza - the famous complex of ancient Mayan pyramids.

“If we don’t wake up right now, we won’t leave early, if we don’t leave early, we won’t see Chichen Itza in the ringing purity of the coming day, but we’ll bump shoulders with other tourists,” I lie and reason, trying to finally cheer myself up. Having a goal gives an incentive - it works flawlessly. Climb!

A little over an hour later, Andryusiks and I are sitting in a colectivo taking us to the “Mouth of the Well of Water Sorcerers.” Don’t be afraid, we didn’t mix up the direction, this is how the name “Chichen Itza” is translated from the Mayan language.

After another forty minutes we find ourselves at the entrance to the archaeological zone, we are the first of the visitors to buy tickets and at exactly eight o’clock we overcome the turnstile separating us from the pyramids. The goal was achieved: we reached the complex at the very opening, when the bulk of tourists were still sleeping or just traveling from Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Merida. Nothing can replace those golden morning hours of silence and solitary walking through ancient ruins.

Attractions of Chichen Itza

Complex Chichen Itza(Chichén Itzá) is considered one of the main and most beloved tourist attractions Yucatan Peninsula. Why? We’ll deal with these a little later, but for now follow us, maybe you’ll understand everything yourself.

While you are reading it, Andryusiks and I are standing, looking at the Sacred Cenote and suddenly we see a bird on a tree. “So what?” you ask. And the fact is that the bird is not an easy one, but one that we have already hunted for several times, trying to photograph. Andryusiks even gave her a name - Bird of Happiness.

And what do you think? Today he manages to catch his Bird of Happiness!

On this optimistic note, we leave Chichen Itza and move on to Cenote Ik Kil. But that's a completely different story.

Is Chichen Itza worth visiting? No matter what, yes. You can’t miss this, otherwise you’ll end up with a situation a la “Coming to Moscow and not seeing Red Square.”

But there is one "but". Remember when I said that Chichen Itza is very popular with tourists? Do you know what thoughts I have on this matter? It seems to me that there are so many tourists here because the pyramids of Chichen Itza are the most accessible in the Yucatan. They are most conveniently accessible from Cancun, and indeed the entire Riviera Maya, Merida, Valladolid. That's why they are the most visited. I do not belittle the merits of this complex, but I also do not believe that it is indisputably the best in Mexico. Undoubtedly, if we compare this complex with nearby Koba or Ek-Balam, it wins both in scale and significance. But we drove through more than half of Mexico, seeing Teotihuacan, Monte Alban, Uxmal, Palenque, Etzna, and these pyramids were no less impressive than Chichen Itza, and some were even several times more impressive.

Enjoy your walks around Chichen Itza, dear readers!

Thank you for the useful information

Was the article useful? Say thank you

Worldwide interest in the heritage of the vanished Mayan civilization continues to this day. Numerous religious and cult mysteries, gloomy predictions, accurate calendars, gigantic ruined cities, among which the most famous is Chichen Itza, invariably attract crowds of tourists and curious people. The magical ancient ruins have been explored continuously for hundreds of years.

History of the ancient Mayan city - Chichen Itza

Based on archaeological data and scraps of ancient chronicles, researchers concluded that the famous Mayan city was founded in the 5th-6th centuries AD. It immediately became the center of the Yucatan territory: political, religious, cultural.

All statements regarding Chichen Itza are unconfirmed and are hypotheses that require evidence that is almost impossible to find. According to some sources, from 20 to 30 thousand residents permanently lived in the city. Countless numbers of pilgrims and wanderers, traders and money changers visited this settlement every year.

In the 10th century, the Mayans were conquered by the Toltecs, Chichen Itza was partially sacked, and most of the population abandoned the city. But life did not leave him. The decline occurs in the 13th century after the birth of Christ. Buildings crumbled, people left Chichen Itza.

An ancient city in the modern world

For a long time, no one showed interest in the majestic and ominous ruins. Since the mid-19th century, a passion for culture, astrology, and most importantly, the legendary riches of the Mayans began. Numerous excavations and studies began on the territory, artists and photographers from all over the world came to capture the bizarre buildings and mysterious temples.

In the 1950s, the Mexican government decided to restore (as much as possible) the original appearance of Chichen Itza. Soon this place became a Mecca for tourists.

In 2007, the ancient city was included in the list world heritage UNESCO and named one of the 7 new wonders of the world.

Excursion around the territory of Chichen Itza

The area of ​​the city is about 6 km. sq. The surviving architectural complexes are numerous and if you study them in detail, examining every relief and column, then one day for a visit will not be enough. Unfortunately, excursions organized from Cancun are only one-day excursions. There is nowhere to stay overnight in Chichen Itza, and it’s creepy.

A professional guide will lead the group along paved roads, perfectly preserved over fifteen centuries, and tell you about all the religious buildings of the city. The most significant and huge of them is the pyramid of the “Feathered Serpent” - Kukulkan. The guide will tell legends about blood sacrifices, cruelty and religious beliefs of the ancient tribe.

The temple of warriors will amaze you with the realistic reliefs and sculptures; it’s easy to get lost in the group of “thousand columns”. The ball court will surprise you with the size of its territory and will give you goosebumps with images of severed heads.

The excursion includes a visit to the sacred cenote - a natural reservoir with a diameter of 60 m. There is evidence that the Mayans threw girls and children, as well as numerous religious objects, into this “lake”, asking their deities for rain. The variety of impressions and the special energy of the place will not leave anyone indifferent!

Tourist information

Chichen Itza coordinates: 20.6842849, -88.5677826.

Distances from cities: from Merida - 115 km; from Cancun - 200 km.

Open to the public: daily from 8:00 to 17:00.

In addition to the famous monuments of the Mayan civilization, Cancun is also interesting because of the island of Cozumel, which is ideal for those who want to soak up the beaches or go diving and surfing.

One of the most famous places that all tourists traveling around Mexico should definitely visit is the ancient city of Chichen Itza. Translated, its name means “Mouth of the well of the water sorcerers” or “Place near the well of the Itza tribe.” This place is mysterious, very colorful and even a little sinister.

Chichetz Itza - a world cultural heritage site

In the past, the city was the political and cultural center of the Maya-Toltec civilization. And now, having become one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it attracts a huge number of tourists. According to rough estimates, more than a million people visit this archaeological complex every year. Chichen Itza gained enormous popularity not only because it was quite well preserved. It has become the quintessence of religious beliefs and ideas about the structure of the universe and the surrounding world. A special influx of tourists occurred in December 2012. Believing in the ancient prophecy, many adherents of the famous calendar rushed to Chichen Itza, wanting to “meet” the end of the world among ancient buildings Mayan.

Chichen Itza: history of origin

It is quite difficult to reliably describe the history of the creation of the city, since there are practically no manuscripts left describing the ancient events of Chichen Itza - they were destroyed by the Spanish conquerors. Archaeological scientists believe that people first began to settle in this place in the 4th century, and the first urban structures began to be erected approximately in the 6th - 7th centuries. At the same time, the urban community arose. Until the 10th century Chichen Itza was a refuge for the Mayans. And by the end of the 10th century. the city was conquered by conquerors from Central Mexico - the Toltecs, who practiced sacrifices and served the cult of the Feathered Serpent. They did not destroy Chichen Itza, but on the contrary, they firmly took root in it. During the reign of the Toltecs, the city became one of the most powerful settlements of the Yucatan Peninsula. From the 11th century The Toltecs made it the capital of their empire. Over time, it gradually changed and increasingly acquired Toltec features. The symbiosis of two unique cultures made the ancient city truly unique. For unknown reasons, at the end of the 12th century. it was abandoned by the inhabitants and overgrown with jungle. Only in 1920 did archaeologists reveal its mysterious structures to the world.

The main attractions of the ancient Mayan city

The most famous building of the ancient city is the Pyramid of Kukulcan (or otherwise, the Pyramid of El Castillo). In 2007, it was included in the list of seven new wonders of the world. Chichen Itza was built in the 11th century. joint efforts of the Mayan and Toltec Indians. They erected a grandiose monument dedicated to the wind, Quetzalcoatl, who had the appearance of a feathered serpent with the head of a man. The Mayan Indians called the deity Kukulkan, that is, “feathered serpent.” This structure was created based on the cosmological and calendar knowledge of the Mayans and Toltecs. It reaches a height of 24 m, and its edges face all four cardinal directions. At the top of the pyramid there is a platform that was used in ancient times for making sacrifices.

Four steep and wide staircases lead to the site, each of which consists of 91 steps, which in total (together with the upper platform) gives the significant number 365, equal to the number of days in a solar year. On each side of the pyramid there are 18 sections - terraces. This number is also symbolic. It is equal to the number of months in the Mayan calendar. In addition, there are 52 stone reliefs on each of the four sides of the pyramid. They represent the coincidence of special Toltec calendar cycles - the daytime shiupoualli and the daytime tonalpohualli - which occurs once every 52 years. Interestingly, inside the sanctuary there is another nine-step pyramid, the entrance to which was found relatively recently. There is a relic there - the "Jaguar Mat" and the statue "Chak-Mool".

The second unique attraction of the city of Chichen Itza in Mexico is the famous Temple of the Warriors. It is located directly behind the El Castillo pyramid and is a monumental five-step pyramid reaching a height of 11.5 m.

It is surrounded on all sides by columns made in the shape of Toltec warriors. That is why the pyramid got its name. At its top there is a temple consisting of a hall and a sanctuary. An impressive staircase surrounded by balustrades leads to the temple. The entrance to the sanctuary is marked by snakes carved from stone. The temple has a stone altar resembling a low table, the legs of which are made in the shape of human figures. There is also an ugly stone idol of the Toltec deity Chak-Mool - a reclining demon holding a large empty dish in his hands and pressing it to his stomach. It is believed that it was on this dish that the priests burned the hearts of their victims.

Another mysterious attraction of the ancient Mayan city is the “Sacred Cenote”

Not only the Chichen Itza pyramids in Mexico deserve the attention of many tourists. North of the El Castillo monument there is another mysterious attraction called the “Sacred Cenote” (otherwise known as the “Well of Death”). This karst formation, unlike other wells, did not serve the Toltecs as a source of fresh water.

The priests threw victims into it, glorifying their gods. The “Well of Death” was 50 m deep and was considered a kind of portal to the other world. In the period from 1910 - 1925. it was examined by Herbert Thompson, who extracted from it a large number of antiquities: items made of gold, ceramics, rubber, obsidian and, of course, many human remains.

Pyramid of Osuari

Chichen Itza also has another karst formation - Cenote Stolok, which is located south of the Temple of Kukulcan. It, unlike the "Well of Death", was used by the Toltecs exclusively as a source drinking water. A little later, the scientist G. Thompson examined another interesting pyramid Chichen Itza - Osuari (otherwise known as the Crypt).

It, like the Temple of Kukulkan, was built with stairs on each of the four sides. Interestingly, in the center of the pyramid there is a deep vertical hole leading to a natural cave. In it, Thompson found several interesting jade artifacts, as well as human remains.

Ball court

Another ominous attraction of the city of Chichen Itza is Tzompantli. It is a T-shaped platform, the walls of which are decorated with relief images of skulls.

Tzompantli was used to display the heads of victims as well as prisoners of war. To the west of the Temple of Skulls is one of the nine ball courts, striking in its grandiose size. Its length is 168 m and its width is about 70 m. It is believed that it was built in 864 AD. In the east of the site is the Temple of the Jaguar, which includes two sanctuaries. The upper sanctuary is located on the wall bordering the platform. They probably watched the ball game from here. The lower sanctuary is located on the outside of the site. Near its entrance there is a monument - the figure of a jaguar. In the northern part of the playground there is another building - the Temple of the Bearded Man. A staircase leads to its entrance, divided by two pillars. The inside of the temple is decorated with a relief, in the center of which is the figure of a man with a beard.

Karakol Observatory

To the south of the ball court are several other attractions, including the Red House, a building with a red façade, and the Caracol (translated as "snail shell"), a tower built on a platform. It is believed that it was used by the Mayan Indians for observing astronomical objects, calculating and therefore Caracol is also called the Observatory.

To the south of the tower there is another powerful Toltec structure, which the Spaniards called the “Convent” for its majestic and forbidding appearance. It reaches a height of 20 m, and its base is 70 m by 35 m. A wide staircase leads to the entrance to the monastery. The building itself is decorated with masks of the god Chaka and various relief patterns.

How to get to the ancient city of Chichen Itza?

This world object is located cultural heritage 1.5 km from the small Mexican settlement of Piste, located between two major cities northern Yucatan - Cancun and Merida. You can get to the city of Chichen Itza yourself by renting a car or taking a bus (a ticket costs from 80 to 140 pesos, depending on the class). A taxi will cost you much more public transport, since the distance from Cancun or Merida is not close, about 200 km and 120 km, respectively. The archaeological area is open to visitors daily, from 8:00 to 17:00. If you want to save money, go sightseeing to the Mayans and Toltecs on Sunday, admission will be free.

Ancient city Chichen Itza is recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site and is the second most popular archaeological site among tourists in Mexico. In 2007, according to a survey, it was recognized as one of the new seven wonders of the world.

Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan city located in the northern part of Yucatan, 120 km east of Merida and 185 km west of Cancun. Chichen Itza covers an area of ​​over 6 square kilometers and is the largest archaeological site on the Yucatan Peninsula. The name of the city is translated from the Mayan language as “the well of the Itza tribe” (“chi” in the Mayan language means “mouth”, “whose” means “well”, and “itsa” is the name of the Mayan tribe or group that, according to legend, first appeared on this earth). This is due to the fact that on the territory of the city there are two sacred senates, natural karst wells, invaluable for the inhabitants of the arid Yucatan. Thus, the sacred cenote (Cenote Sagrado) served as a place of pilgrimage.

The ancient city of Chichen Itza is the most significant political and ceremonial center of the Mayan civilization on the Yucatan Peninsula. The sacred city of the Itza people and a striking example of the influence of Toltec culture on Mayan culture.

Architectural monuments of the city of Chichen Itza

1. Sacred Cenote
2. Great Ball Court
3. Temple of the Jaguar (Temple de Jaguaras)
4. Platform of the Jaguaras and Eagles
5. Platform of Venus
6. Pyramid of Kukulcan (El Castillo)
7. Temple of the Warriors
8. Group of a Thousand Columns the One Thousand) 9. Karakol Observatory

Great Pyramid of Chichen Itza

At the entrance to the archaeological zone, on the right, stands the main attraction of the city - the Pyramid of Kukulkan ( great pyramid Chichen Itza). This is a nine-tiered pyramid 24 meters high with four wide staircases. Stairs lead to the temple located at the top of the Chichen Itza pyramid. The entrance to it is decorated with the mask of the rain god Chaak. The main staircase is considered to be the northern one; it can be recognized by the stone heads of the feathered serpent Kukulkan, the Mayan analogue of Quetzalcoatl, located at the base. The symbolism of the Chichen Itza pyramid is closely related to the calendar and the movement of celestial bodies. Each staircase has 91 steps; if you add up all four and add the step on the top platform of the pyramid, you get 365, which corresponds to the number of days in a solar year. On each side of the pyramid there are 52 panels, of which the tiers are folded - this number corresponds to the number of years of one cycle of the Mayan calendar.

In addition, on the days of the spring and autumn equinox, March 20 and September 21, the so-called feathered serpent phenomenon occurs. The rays of the sun illuminate the balustrade of the main staircase and form a chain of seven isosceles triangles, reminiscent of the body of a snake, which is crowned with the illuminated stone head of Kukulkan. The triangles are formed as a result of shadows from the tiers of the Chichen Itza pyramid. As the sun moves, the illuminated ones, starting from the top, “go out,” which creates the effect of a snake crawling down.

Behind the Kukulkan pyramid, surrounded by several temples, is a ball field. This is the largest field in Mesoamerica, its length is 166 meters and its width is 68 meters. The height of the walls is 12 meters, in the middle of each of them there are stone rings fixed at a height of 8 meters.

Ball game Pok-ta-pok

At the eastern end of the ball field is a jaguar temple. Part of its frieze is decorated with the image of two intertwined snakes; in the middle part you can see two jaguars running in different directions and three shields - a symbol of war. The frieze is divided by two columns in the form of feathered serpents.

On the other side of the Kakulkan pyramid, to the east, is the "Group of a Thousand Columns" - an impressive colonnade, part of a large architectural complex. which also includes the Temple of the Warriors (Templo de los Guerreros), the temazcal (Temazcalli) and the market (Mercado).

Temple of the Warriors easily recognized by the stone figure of Chek Mool (Chac Mool) located on the top. It is believed that this sculpture symbolizes one of the gods or a priest; he is traditionally depicted reclining and holding a dish on his stomach. You cannot climb to the top of the temple, but you can view the beautiful facades of two symmetrical buildings with carvings of jaguars, feathered serpents and figurines of the god Chaak with a long hooked nose.

Market is a colonnade forming two parallel galleries with a small altar on which human figures and feathered serpents are depicted. Despite its name, there is no exact information about whether this place was used as a market. Near the market, to the east, there are ruins temazcal- traditional Indian bathhouse. The portico, four colonies and stone seats against the wall are all that remains of the dressing room; The steam room with a narrow entrance is located on the left.

In the southern part of the Chichen Itza archaeological zone there is another interesting object– observatory (Сaracol). Here the ancient Mayan astronomers studied the Universe. Small openings in the walls were intended to observe celestial objects and were designed to take into account their trajectories.

The alley running from the Kakulkan pyramid to the north leads to sacrificial sacred cenote. A natural round well with a diameter of 60 m and a depth of 245 m with walls made of castrum deposits and water of a green hue served as a place of ritual worship of the rain god for more than 1000 years. The color of the water is due to the specific local flora and mud deposits at the bottom. The Mayans believed that the rain god lived in the watery depths, and during droughts they brought human sacrifices here. At the beginning of the 20th century, during research, archaeologists pumped water out of the cenote and discovered thousands of objects at the bottom - gold, copper, obsidians, emeralds, weapons, human skeletons.

History of the city of Chichen Itza

The city is believed to have been founded in the 5th-6th centuries and was one of largest cities Mayan. The city flourished in the 8th-9th centuries. The buildings built during this period are heterogeneous; some of them can be attributed to classical Mayan buildings.

By the end of the 10th century, however, for unknown reasons, life here had practically ceased.

After the disappearance of the Mayans, the city was occupied by the Toltecs, who came to Yucatan from central Mexico, and in the middle of the 11th century became the capital of the Toltec state. The conquerors brought with them new customs and rituals, new features in architecture, art and religion. During the Toltec era, the northern part of the city was formed. The population, according to various estimates, ranged from 20,000 to 30,000 inhabitants.

As the power of other political centers in Yucatan grew, the hegemony of Chichen Itza began to increasingly cause their discontent, and at the beginning of the 13th century, the forces of three cities (Itzmal, Mayapan and Uxmal) defeated the Chichen Itza troops in a decisive battle.
By the end of the 14th century, the city fell into decay and was again depopulated. By the time of the Spanish conquest in the mid-16th century, Chichen Itza was already a ruin.
In the 16th century, the Spanish army, after several unsuccessful attempts, captured the decaying city and its surroundings, after which there were farms here for several centuries.

American traveler John Lloyd Stevens rediscovered the city in 1843 and first mentioned it in his book Travels in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan.

17 years later, his French colleague Desir Charnay first photographed the historical sites of the city, after which Chichen Itza attracted the attention of many European researchers. In 1913, the American Carnegie Institution developed a long-term project for the excavation and restoration of Chichen Itza, and 10 years later the Mexican government officially allowed American archaeologists to work in the city. In the 1960s, there were two restoration expeditions to Chichen Itza, which were supervised by the National Institute of Anthropology of History.

(to know Full description programs and costs can be found at the contacts at the bottom of the article)

One of the most popular and super-visited historical sites in Mexico - Chichen Itza, is located in relative proximity (200 km) to the equally popular beach resort Cancun. Ancient Mayan city Chichen Itza has long been recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site. Chichen Itza is the second most popular place among tourists from all over the world where archaeological sites are accessible to the public. Chichen Itza is one of the recognized new seven wonders of the world!

Chichen Itza - restored Mayan city

Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan settlement located in the state of Yucatan, 120 kilometers from Merida (the state capital) and almost 200 kilometers from Cancun (state of Quintana Roo). From the Mayan language, Chichen Itza is literally translated as the well of the Mayan people (more precisely, one of the many Mayan tribes). Indeed, on the territory of the Chichen Itza archaeological park at the end of the 19th century, the same ritual cenote was discovered, which gave the world a lot of artifacts and interesting things of the Indians who inhabited these places in the past. Unfortunately, many of these cultural units remained forever lost to the owner of the heritage - Mexico. The Chichen Itza Archaeological Park is located on 6 square kilometers and is protected and studied UNESCO object. On the territory of this park there is a whole ensemble of former architecture:

1. Pyramid of Kukulkan (El Castillo)2. Sacred Cenote3. Temple of the Jaguar (Temple de Jaguaras)4. Platform of the Jaguaras and Eagles5. Platform of Venus6. Great Ball Court7. Temple of the Warriors8. Group of the One Thousand9. Karakol Observatory

Pyramid of Kukulcan

Pyramid of Kukulcan is the most popular structure in the Chichen Itza Archaeological Park. Many thousands of photographs of tourists were taken against the backdrop of this nine-tiered pyramid with four wide staircases in 4 cardinal directions, a priest’s platform at the top and a bas-relief ensemble at the foot. Four staircases lead to the temple on the priest's platform, and the entrance to it is decorated with the mask of the rain god Chaak. The traditions performed during the construction of the Kukulkan pyramid reveal the ancients’ commitment to numerology. Thus, the total number of steps on each of the stairs of the pyramid adds up to 364, and one more, the common 365th step, is located at the top - it is common to all sides. The 9 tiers consist of 52 panels on each side. 52 is the number of years in one cycle of the Mayan calendar. ()

Descending serpent Kukulkan

A notable feature of this temple structure is its precise geographical position relative to the cardinal directions and strict geometric shapes. Yes, twice a year March 20 and September 21 on the days of the autumn and spring equinoxes occurs "descent of the feathered serpent"- the visual appearance of the jagged body of the mystical deity in the form of a shadow cast by the geometric curves of the pyramid shapes. A chain of seven isosceles triangles and a stone head at the foot of Kukulkan causes indescribable delight among tourists arriving in the ancient city of Chichen Itza from all over the world!

Temple of a Thousand Columns

To the east of the Kukulcan pyramid is the temple colonnade (Group of a Thousand Columns) - part of a large archaeological complex that includes "Temple of Warriors", ancient market and Temazcal ritual bath.

Indian football Pok ta Pok

On the opposite side there is a stadium for playing ball - the Indian analogue of football - "Pok-ta-Pok". This is the largest ball stadium in Yucatan. Its length is 166 meters and its width is 68 meters. The height of the walls on which the spectators were located on both sides was 12 meters, and at a height of 8 meters there were rings into which the ball had to be kicked. Judging by the ensemble of bas-reliefs on the walls of this “football” field, the game was quite fierce. Not only did the rubber ball itself weigh no less than 4 kg and it was allowed to hit it with the shoulders, elbows and hips, but victory and subsequent death for it was a matter of honor for the ancient Mayans. These same bas-reliefs talk about the honor of dying from a blade in the heart of the captain of the winning team. The game was quite popular both among the nobility and among the common population.

Temple of the Jaguar

To the side of the playing field are the ruins of a jaguar temple. Here is a bas-relief image of a pair of intertwined snakes, jaguars that run in different directions and three symbols of war and resistance - shields! ()

Warrior Temple of Chichen Itza

The temple of warriors located near the temple of the jaguar attracts tourists with a figurine of a deity familiar from advertising brochures. Chuck Mol. He was traditionally depicted in a reclining position with a ritual tray or thicket on his stomach. The temple is not accessible to entry, but from behind the fence you can easily see the facades of two buildings with bas-relief images of sacred jaguars, the feathered serpent Kukulkan and the deity Chaak with a long nose curved downwards.

Market in Chichen Itza

The market square, which is a row of columns, the Temazcal Indian bathhouse with a preserved dressing room with columns and a steam room is another part of the architectural park worthy of a visit.

Observatory at Chichen Itza

The southern part of Chichen Itza is interesting for its unique object - the observatory "Shell" or "Karakol". Surprising is the fact that special holes were made in the dome of the observatory through which you can observe the trajectory of celestial bodies and objects.

Souvenirs in Chichen Itza

A must-see place in the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza is a small alley lined with souvenir sellers. At the end of this alley there is a sacred sacrificial cenote 250 meters deep and up to 65 meters in diameter. The cenote became a place final resting place for many thousands of sacrifices made to the rain god. Along with the remains of victims, at the beginning of the 20th century, gold and emeralds, which were of no value to the ancient Mayans, were recovered from the bottom.

Friends! If you have any questions - don't hesitate! - ask them in the comments below or write to me on social networks!