Ghost Town Teotihuacan is located 40 km northeast of Mexico City in the municipality of San Juan Teotihuacan. Teotihuacan is an ancient settlement, whose age is about two thousand years, and translated from the Aztec language literally translated as "the place where the Gods touch the earth."
Modern Teotihuacan - a huge archaeological complex, the most famous buildings are considered Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon.
A little history
The first archaeological excavations in Teotihuacan were conducted in the 17th century. Carlos de Siguenza and Gongora around the Pyramid of the Sun. In 1905, under the leadership of Leopoldo Batres, large-scale excavations and restoration of the Pyramid of the Sun began on the day of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the end of the Mexican War of Independence. In the 1920s under the leadership of Manuel Gamio excavations of the Citadel were conducted. Other sites were opened in the 1940s-1950s.
| Teotihuacan |
How to get to Teotihuacan
Every day from 7:00 to 18:00 every 15 minutes from the North Terminal (Terminal Autobuses del Norte) Mexico City buses go to Teotihuacan (35 pesos, 1 hour, prices are in May 2011). Before you board a bus, you should make sure that it goes towards Los Pirámides, and not to the nearby town of San Juan Teotihuacán. Buses arrive at entrance No. 1, making stops at the entrance No. 2 and No. 3. The last bus to Mexico City leaves at 6:00 pm. In Mexico City, some buses stop at the Indios Verdes metro, but most are to the North Terminal.
From the town of San Juan Teotihuacan to the ruins of the ancient city can be reached by taxi (1.5 pesos, prices are in May 2011).
Search flights to Mexico City (nearest airport Teotihuacanu)
Climate
Teotihuacan is located in the northern part of the Mexican Valley, so the city is dominated by a temperate climate. From May to August, the thermometer's column ranges from 24 to 27 degrees, from September to January falls to 22-23 degrees.
Restaurants and shops
In Teotihuacan there are many sellers who sell silver products, which in Mexico is considered very cheap. You can also buy figurines and statuettes from obsidian and Aztec flutes. Behind the perimeter of the archaeological complex there are shops that not only sell, but also produce stone products, including obsidian.
There are several restaurants, grocery stores and bakeries outside the archaeological complex. Restaurante La Gruta, located along the eastern perimeter of Teotihuacan, is noteworthy, 500 meters down the road from entrance No. 5. The restaurant is located in the depths of the cave and is illuminated by two large side holes.
The Techinanco restaurant specializes in homemade Mexican food - here you can try fried tacos (tacos fritos), enchiladas (enchiladas) and other traditional dishes. Restaurants are also in the Villa Arquelogica of Teotihuacan and the Teotihuacán Museum.
| View of Teotihuacan |
| Road of the dead |
| Pyramid of the Moon |
Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Teotihuacan
The most ancient buildings of Teotihuacan are the two Pyramids - the Sun and the Moon, which are part of a large temple complex.
Pyramid of the Sun
Pyramid of the Sun, built around 150 g .to n .e ., - the third largest in the world after the Great Pyramid in Cholula (Mexico) and the Pyramid of Cheops in Giza (Egypt), and its height reaches 64 meters .The Pyramid of the Sun was built over an artificially created tunnel leading to a "cave" located six meters below .It was assumed that the cave was formed naturally by the movement of lava and, according to the mythology of the Aztecs, was considered the ancestral home of the Nahua tribes .As a result of later excavations, a hypothesis was advanced that this place was man-made and once served as a royal tomb .
Pyramid of the Moon
The Pyramid of the Moon, built between 400 and 250 years. n. E., is considered the second largest structure after the Pyramid of the Sun. The Pyramid's staircase leads to the path of the Dead, and at its top is a ritual ceremony site.
Citadel
In the center of Teotihuacan is the Citadel - a huge space surrounded by four wide walls of 390 meters in length each. Presumably the Citadel served as the residence of the Supreme ruler of the city. Its walls are crowned by 15 small pyramids, and in the center is the Temple of the Feathered Serpent (Templo de Quetzalcóatl). The most interesting is the facade of Templo de Quetzalcóatl, dating from 250-300 years. BC. e., while the temple itself was built in the following century. The four remaining steps of the facade are decorated with beautiful carvings.
Palaces
To the north of the main complex, a few hundred meters from the entrance No. 1 is another group of buildings - the palaces of Tetitla and Atetelco. Most of the frescoes decorating the palaces have been preserved in excellent condition. At Tetitla Palace, at least 120 walls are decorated with frescoes depicting the God of rain and thunder of Tláloc, snakes and eagles. 400 meters west of Tetitla is the Atetelco Palace with original and restored frescoes depicting jaguars and coyotes.
Museum
The museum of Museo Teotihuacán has collected many artifacts discovered during excavations on the territory of the complex - these are murals and large-scale models of the ancient city.
| Masks of serpentines |
| One of the exhibits of the museum is |
| Pyramid of the Sun |