Pyramid of the Sun (the third largest pyramid in the world), Teotihuacan, Mexico Tourist Attractions and Travel HOME > AMERICA > Pyramid of the Sun (the third largest pyramid in the world), Teotihuacan, Mexico Tourist Attractions and Travel The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacán and one of the largest in Mesoamerica. Found along the Avenue of the Dead, in between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela, and in the shadow of the massive mountain Cerro Gordo, the pyramid is part of a large complex in the heart of the city. Pyramid of the Sun travel, Mexico Tourist Attractions The Pyramid of the Sun was built in 2 A.D. along with the surrounding city of Teotihuacan and the Pyramid of the Moon. This ancient area was said to be the place where men became gods. Mexican lore states that the two pyramids were built to honor the birth of the Sun and Moon gods. I Priests would perform daily rituals from both pyramids in their honors. Just recently a man's body was found buried in the Moon Pyramid.

The man was apparenlt buried alive with art, gold and sacrafices for the god. As a connector between the pyramids, the Avenue of the Dead runs for about a mile. The priests would walk the avenue during their religious cerimonies. Although the ancient city was a religious hub, it also was one of the largest cities at the time, and had approximately 100,000 people. Pyramid of the Sun attractions The name Pyramid of the Sun comes from the Aztecs, who visited the city of Teotihuacán centuries after it was abandoned; the name given to the pyramid by the Teotihuacanos is unknown. It was constructed in two phases. The first construction stage, around 100 A.D., brought the pyramid to nearly the size it is today. The second round of construction resulted in its completed size of 738 feet (225 meters) across and 246 feet (75 meters) high, making it the third largest pyramid in the world behind the Great Pyramid of Cholula and The Great Pyramid. The second Pyramid of the Sun travel phase also saw the construction of an altar atop of the pyramid, which has not survived into modern times.

The Adosada platform was added to the pyramid in the early third century, at around the same time that the Ciudadela and Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Teotihuacan Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent were constructed. Over the structure the ancient Teotihuacanos finished their pyramid with lime plaster imported from surrounding areas, on which they painted brilliantly colored murals. While the pyramid has endured for centuries, the paint and plaster have not and are no longer visible. Few images are thought to have been included in the mural decorations on the sides of the pyramid. Jaguar heads and paws, stars, and snake rattles are among the few images associated with the pyramids. Arch of Triumph It is thought that the pyramid venerated a deity within Teotihuacan society but the destruction of the temple on top of the pyramid, by both deliberate and natural forces prior to the archaeological study of the site, has so far prevented identification of the pyramid with any particular deity. Some scholars have suggested that the deity of the pyramid was the Great Goddess, one of two Pyramid of the Sun tourism major Teotihuacan deities and one of the few goddesses in ancient Mesoamerica.

However, little evidence exists to support this theory. The first major archaeological excavation of the site was done by Leopoldo Batres in 1906. Batres supervised restoration of the Pyramid for the 1910 centennial of Mexican independence. Some aspects of Batres' reconstruction of the pyramid have been questioned by later archaeologists. Subsequent excavations of Teotihuacan have continued to the present. In 1925 Pedro Dosal discovered skeletons at the 4 corners of the foundations of the temple, which he interpreted as human sacrifices at the dedication of the temple. The orientation of the structure may hold some anthropological significance. The pyramid is oriented slightly northwest of the horizon point of the setting sun on two days a year, August 12 and April 29, which are about one divinatory calendar year apart for the Teotihuacanos. The day of August 12 is significant because it would have marked the date of the beginning of the present era and the initial day of the Maya long count calendar. In addition, many important astrological events can be viewed from the location of the pyramid that are important in terms of both agriculture and belief systems of the ancient society.

The pyramid was built over a man-made tunnel leading to a "cave" located six meters down beneath the center of the structure. Originally this was believed to be a naturally formed lava tube cave and interpreted as possibly the place of Chicomoztoc, the place of human origin according to Nahua legends. More recent excavations have suggested that the space is man-made instead, and Pyramid of the Sun attractions could have served as a royal tomb.[1] Recently scientists have used muon detectors to try to find other chambers within the interior of the pyramid, but substantial looting has prevented the discovery of a function for the chambers in Teotihuacan society. Only a few caches of artifacts have been found in and around the pyramid. Obsidian arrowheads and human figurines have been discovered inside the pyramid and similar objects have been found at the nearby Pyramid of the Moon and Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent in the Ciudadela. These objects may have represented sacrificial victims. In addition, burial sites of children have been found in excavations at the corners of the pyramid. It is believed that these burials were part of a sacrificial ritual dedicating the Pyramid of the Sun travel building of the pyramid.

The Pyramid of the Sun was built in 2 A.D. along with the surrounding city and the Pyramid of the Moon. The city of Teotihuacan was the first true city in Mesoamerica, with around 100,000 people. The Pyramid of the Sun is the third largest in the world Mexico Tourist Attractions When originally built, the Mexican pyramids were plastered and painted red. None of that color or plaster remains today, leaving the pyramids simply stone-colored. A great disaster ravaged the city, reducing the population to 70,000. Many moved and several years later the city was burned and destroyed and finally abandoned. Tourist Attractions The 10 Best Teotihuacan Pyramids Tours, Trips & Tickets - Mexico City | Viator Mexico City ATTRACTIONS See all Teotihuacan Pyramids Just north of Mexico City are the mysterious Teotihuacán Pyramids, built in 300 BC as the centerpiece of an enormous city that is often compared to ancient Rome.

They were inexplicably abandoned centuries before the arrival of the Aztecs, who called the ancient architectural marvel the 'Birthplace of the Gods.' Neither the Aztecs nor modern archaeologists have unraveled the secrets of these massive ruins, presided over by the third-largest pyramid in the world. Constructed according to precise astronomical measurements and filled with the bodies of sacrificial victims, Teotihuacán was perhaps a place where rituals were performed to keep the end of the world at bay. But no one really knows. Thus, this mystic spot is one of the most enigmatic and impressive archaeological sites in North America. Its vast stone expanse of humbling temples are still covered with rich and detailed stone statues, even faded paintings. Visitors can experience the pyramids in a number of unique ways and even opt for an early morning tour with a private archaeologist. Other exploration options include a hot air balloon tour, a bike ride around the complex and the compelling Light and Sound show.

Practical Info Two roads head north to Teotihuacán from Mexico City (exit on Insurgentes): the scenic but long 132-D, a winding freeway that can take well over an hour, and 85-D, a toll road that usually gets visitors to the pyramids in about 50 minutes. It's also easy and convenient to take buses from the Terminal Central del Norte. Clearly marked buses leave hourly (at least) from the terminal and are geared toward tourists with limited Spanish skills. On weekends and holidays, a tourist trolley can be taken around the Teotihuacán Pyramids for a small fee. Be aware that the ruins are free for Mexican citizens on Sunday, so the place is packed. The Light and Sound show is available seasonally, from April through December. Tours & Tickets Pyramids in Latin America - Ancient History - HISTORY.com Pyramids in Latin America A+E Networks Introduction Despite the towering reputation of Egypt’s Great Pyramids at Giza, the Americas actually contain more pyramid structures than the rest of the planet combined. Civilizations like the Olmec, Maya, Aztec and Inca all built pyramids to house their deities, as well as to bury their kings.

In many of their great city-states, temple-pyramids formed the center of public life and were the site of much holy ritual, including human sacrifice. The best known Latin American pyramids include the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacán in central Mexico, the Castillo at Chichén Itzá in the Yucatan, the Great Pyramid in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, the Pyramid at Cholula and the Inca’s great temple at Cuzco in Peru. Google Rise of the Pyramid-Builders Mesoamerican peoples built pyramids from around 1000 B.C. up until the time of the Spanish conquest in the early 16th century. The earliest known pyramid stands at La Venta in Tabasco , Mexico. Built by the Olmecs, the first major Mesoamerican civilization, it dates to between 1000 B.C. and 400 B.C. American pyramids were generally built of earth and then faced with stone, typically in a stepped, or layered, shape topped by a platform or temple structure. Did You Know?

In many cases, pyramids in Latin America were rebuilt again and again over already existing structures, in order to glorify the current ruler. Rebuilding the pyramid, it was believed, was a crucial process that renewed the king's relationship with the gods. At one point, historians concluded that (in contrast with Egyptian pyramids), pre-Columbian pyramids were not intended as burial chambers but as homes for deities. However, more recent excavations have unearthed evidence that some pyramids did include tombs, and there is also evidence that city-states used the pyramids for military defense. Pyramid of the Sun The most famous single pyramid in Latin America is the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacán, Mexico . The Teotihuacán was one of the most dominant societies in Mesoamerica; their namesake capital, located northeast of today’s Mexico City, had a population of 100,000 to 200,000 during the fifth and sixth centuries. According to Aztec tradition, the sun and the moon, as well as the rest of the universe, traced their origins to Teotihuacán. More temples have been discovered there than in any other Mesoamerican city.

The Teotihuacán built the Pyramids of the Sun and of the Moon between A.D. 1 and 250. Like many Mesoamerican pyramids, each was constructed around a core of rubble held in place by retaining walls. The walls were then faced with adobe bricks, and then covered with limestone. The base of the Pyramid of the Sun measures 730 feet per side, with five stepped terraces reaching a height of some 200 feet. Its massive size rivals that of the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. Within the current pyramid is another, earlier pyramid structure of almost the same size. In 1971, archaeologists discovered a cave underneath the Pyramid of the Sun, leading to a chamber in the shape of a four-leaf clover. Artifacts found in the cave indicated the room’s use as a shrine, long before the pyramid itself was built. The Pyramid of the Moon, though similar, was built on a smaller scale; it sits at the north end of the city’s main axis, called the Avenue of the Dead.

Teotihuacán also contains a smaller stepped, stone-covered temple-pyramid called the Temple of the Feathered Serpent (an early form of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl). It was dedicated around A.D. 200, and evidence has been found of some 200 individuals who were sacrificed in the ceremony to honor it. Teotihuacán declined between the seventh and 10th centuries and was eventually abandoned. Maya Pyramids The Maya , another dominant civilization of Mesoamerica, made temple-pyramids the glorious centers of their great stone cities. One of the most famous, the magnificently carved Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque (Mexico), was a funerary monument to the seventh century king Hanab Pakal. The tallest Maya pyramid, located in Tikal, Guatemala, dates to the eighth century A.D., before the civilization’s mysterious decline. Another Maya monument, built in the ninth and 10th centuries A.D., is at the center of the city of Uxmal in the Yucatan.

Known as the Pyramid of the Magician or Sorcerer, it was (according to Maya legend) built by the god of magic, Itzamná, as a training center for shamans, healers and priests. The Maya city of Chichén Itzá contains the Castillo, or Temple of Kukulcan (“feathered serpent,” the Maya equivalent of Quetzalcoatl). Constructed around A.D. 1100, the 180-square-foot Castillo was constructed over another temple-pyramid built 100 years earlier. Its four stairways have 91 steps each, which combined with the single step at the entrance to the temple adds up to 365 stairs exactly–the number of days in the Mayan year. (The Maya had a complex astronomical and cosmological system, and often angled their ceremonial buildings, like pyramids, so that they would face sunrise or sunset at particular times of the year.) Aztec Pyramids The Aztecs , who lived in the Mexican valley between the 12th and 16th centuries, also built pyramids in order to house and honor their deities.

The elaborate nature of Aztec pyramids and other architecture was also connected to the Aztec’s warrior culture: The Aztec symbol for conquest was a burning pyramid, with a conqueror destroying the temple at its top. Tenochtitlan, the great Aztec capital, housed the Great Pyramid, a four-stepped structure some 60 meters high. At its top, two shrines honored Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of sun and war, and Tlaloc, god of rain and fertility. The Great Pyramid was destroyed along with the rest of the Aztec civilization by the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes and his army in 1521. Underneath its ruins, the remains of six earlier pyramids were later found, evidence of the constant rebuilding process common to the Mesoamerican pyramids. Located in the plains surrounding the city of Puebla (founded by the Spanish colonists), the pyramid complex of Cholula (named for the Mesoamerican people that built it) was the largest single structure in pre-Columbian Mexico.

Constructed from adobe in four stages of construction beginning around the second century B.C., the Pyramid of Cholula measured 1,083 by 1,034 feet at the base and was about 82 feet high. The warrior Toltecs conquered the region around 1200, and rebuilt the pyramid as their ceremonial center. The Aztecs later claimed it as their own, dedicating it to the god Quetzalcoatl. When the Spaniards destroyed the holy city of Cholula in the 16th century, they built a church atop the ruins of the huge pyramid complex, in a conscious attempt to claim the New World for Christianity. Pyramids to the South: Moche & Inca More pyramids can be found in South America, which was home to indigenous populations like the Moche, Chimú and Incas. The Moche, who lived along the northern coast of what is now Peru, built their pyramids of adobe, or sun-dried mud-bricks.

The Huaca del Sol (or Holy Place of the Sun) was almost 100 feet tall and built of more than 143 million bricks, while the Huaca de la Luna (dedicated to the moon) was rebuilt multiple times over a 600-year period. Some 80 years before the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrived in the Andes, the Inca ruler Pachacuti Yupanqui (A.D. 1438 to 1471) began the construction of a great temple-pyramid, Sascahuamán, in the capital city of Cuzco. It took 20,000 workers 50 years to build the pyramid, constructed from huge stones fitted together without mortar. The Incas, Latin America’s last great indigenous civilization to survive, used the same building techniques to construct their marvelous stone city, Machu Picchu , high in the Andes. Tags Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico Important Announcement about Online Courses and LEARN NC .

Important Message about LEARN NC LEARN NC is evaluating its role in the current online education environment as it relates directly to the mission of UNC-Chapel Hill School of Education (UNC-CH SOE). We plan to look at our ability to facilitate the transmission of the best research coming out of UNC-CH SOE and other campus partners to support classroom teachers across North Carolina. We will begin by evaluating our existing faculty and student involvement with various NC public schools to determine what might be useful to share with you. Donât worry! The lesson plans, articles, and textbooks you use and love arenât going away. They are simply being moved into the new LEARN NC Digital Archive. While we are moving away from a focus on publishing, we know itâs important that educators have access to these kinds of resources. These resources will be preserved on our website for the foreseeable future. That said, weâre directing our resources into our newest efforts, so we wonât be adding to the archive or updating its contents. This means that as the North Carolina Standard Course of Study changes in the future, we wonât be re-aligning resources.

Our full-text and tag searches should make it possible for you to find exactly what you need, regardless of standards alignment. Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico About this photograph This photograph copyright ©2007. Terms of use Related media Search LEARN NC for Aztecs , Maya , Mexico , and Teotihuacan . In the classroom See our collection of articles on visual literacy for ideas on using photographs meaningfully in the classroom. Pin It A very large stone pyramid rises from a grass field. The pyramid is composed of several different levels, with stairs leading from level to level. The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest structure in Teotihuacan, and the second largest in Mesoamerica. It is also the third largest pyramid in the world. The original purpose of the Pyramid of the Sun is unknown, though archaeologists believe it originally had an altar on top of the Pyramid. Therefore, it most likely was built to honor a deity. Unfortunately, looting over the years has reduced the material available for study. Teotihuacan is the name of a Mesoamerican indigenous civilization and its grandest city, once the largest city in Mexico.

The Teotihuacan people predated the Maya by over five hundred years, and the Aztec by more than a thousand years. The civilization of Teotihuacan reached its height in the 1st century CE (AD) when the huge pyramid to the sun was built. The estimated population of the city at its largest varies from 150,000 to 250,000. Artisans of the city are known for the sweeping grandeur of the buildings they left behind, and numerous artifacts made from obsidian, a black volcanic rock indigenous to the region. The reason for the decline of the city and its civilization after 450 CE (AD) is unknown. Some archaeologists hypothesize that climate change and severe droughts led to internal unrest that may have caused the destruction of the city. Today, Teotihuacan is a popular tourist destination replete with museums and ongoing archaeological investigation. LEARN NC, a program of the UNC School of Education , finds the most innovative and successful practices in K-12 education and makes them available to the teachers and students of North Carolina - and the world.

Teotihuacan Pyramids and Shrine of Guadalupe - Mexico City | Viator Teotihuacan Pyramids and Shrine of Guadalupe From USD $ 48.99 View price calendar We're sorry, we cannot confirm pricing due to the following: We're sorry, this tour or activity is not available at this time. Please try selecting another date and/or a different number of travelers. An error has occurred We're sorry! We've encountered a temporary glitch and cannot process your request. Our team is investigating the problem. In the meantime try pressing the back button, refreshing the page or returning to . Adult (Age 3+) Hotel Pickup Hit two must-see attractions — Teotihuacan Pyramids and the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe — on this full-day tour from Mexico City. Discover architectural treasures in the UNESCO-listed zone of Teotihuacan, also known as the City of the Gods, and then climb the Sun and Moon pyramids for fantastic views of the ancient city. Finish the day with a visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of the most popular religious sites in Latin America.

Highlights Enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Teotihuacan Pyramids and the Shrine of Guadalupe Climb the pyramids, visit the butterfly temple and see the Temple of Quetzacoatl Explore ancient Mayan ruins at the famous archaeological site Complimentary pickup and drop off from most downtown Mexico City, Reforma and Polanco hotels Recent Photos of This Tour Teotihuacan Pyramids and Shrine of Guadalupe Moon Taken from the summit of the Moon over looking the avenue of the dead. Photo by: William D Having some fun after lunch with a big Corona and a loaded gun! Photo by: Bandit and quot;I was there and quot; shot at Teotihuacan. Photo by: Wendy S My family at lunch, before the tequila! Photo by: Wendy S Sun Pyramid from a distance - difficult, but worth the climb! Photo by: Alexandra W Temple of the Sun, 250 steps to top. Photo by: Mae M 11 2016 , This is the Temple of the Moon, Temple of the Moon, people could climb the first 50 steps. Photo by: Mae M In top of the Pyramid of the ...

View of the Calzada de Los Muertos and The Sun pyramid. Photo by: Francisco Alvar J 10 2016 Pyramid of the Sun at ... This pyramid has 248 steps! Definitely bring comfortable shoes and plenty of water! Photo by: Viridiana M seen from the Avenue of the Dead Photo by: André d This view will make you think of eternity. Photo by: Olga N You can climb the pyramid or just take a picture like me. Photo by: Olga N There are a lot of cacti there. Photo by: Olga N What You Can Expect Teotihuacan Pyramids Enjoy pickup by air-conditioned coach from your Mexico City hotel, and travel with your guide for an hour outside of the city to Teotihuacan, a UNESCO-listed archaeological site. Your full-day tour of the pre-Columbian Mesoamerican city takes you around its magnificent pyramids, the Avenue of the Dead, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, and Temple of the Feathered Serpent, the third largest pyramid at Teotihuacan.

Wander down wide avenues, thousands of years old, and learn about the Aztec customs and culture of this ancient site commonly referred to as the City of the Gods. Climb your way up the Sun Pyramid and the Moon Pyramid. From the summit, admire the vast Avenue of the Dead, the mile-long (2.5 km) road that divided the city and stretched from the Moon Plaza in the north to the Great Compound in the south. After your Teotihuacan tour, head to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the most visited religious site in Latin America. Learn about the Spanish Baroque work of art built in the 16th century. Legend has it that a ‘lady from heaven’ appeared in 1531 to a local peasant at Tepeyac, a hill just outside of Mexico City. She identified herself as the Mother of the True God, instructed him to have the bishop construct a temple on this location and left an image of herself imprinted miraculously on his tilma, or cloak. Your tour ends with transport back to your hotel.

Customer Reviews Teotihuacan: Ancient City of Pyramids Teotihuacan: Ancient City of Pyramids By Owen Jarus, Live Science Contributor | August 20, 2012 06:45pm ET MORE Credit: Kate Connes | Shutterstock Located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of modern-day Mexico City, Teotihuacan was one of the largest urban centers in the ancient world. No one knows who built it. The city flourished between 2,100 years ago, when construction began, and about 1,400 years ago, when it went into a period of decline, including a fire that caused great damage. However, even with the decline, the city was never truly “lost” — the Aztecs made regular pilgrimages to the site in later periods. What the city’s own inhabitants called the city and its structures is unknown.

The current name, Teotihuacan, was given to it by the Aztecs and means “the place where the gods were created.” Size and influence At its zenith, Teotihuacan encompassed an urban core of about 8 square miles (20 square km) with a population estimated at more than 100,000 people. Its influence was felt throughout central Mexico and as far south as Guatemala. The city was organized using a grid plan, many people living in what scholars refer to as “apartment compounds,” containing multiple families. An archaeological mapping project identified about 2,200 of these structures within the city, with excavations showing that some compounds were richer than others, containing more stone and lime plaster in their construction. The Avenue of the Dead at Teotihuacan. Credit: trappy76 Shutterstock Avenue of the Dead Running on a north-south axis is the city’s main street known today as the Avenue of the Dead, from a later Aztec name. It runs for more than two miles and contains three major pyramid complexes. Pyramid of the Moon At the northern end of the avenue is the Pyramid of the Moon , from an Aztec name.

Recent research suggests it was built in stages between around 1 AD and 350 AD. It started off as a small platform and eventually became a 150-foot-high (46 meters) pyramid with a base 550 feet (168 meters) by 490 feet (149 meters). Its elevated platforms were likely used for rituals that could be witnessed by people on the ground. Tombs found associated with the structure contain both human and animal sacrifices along with grave goods such as obsidian and greenstone. Pyramid of the Sun Less than half a mile south of the Pyramid of the Moon is the Pyramid of Sun. At a height of more than 200 feet (63 meters) and a base more than 730 feet (225 meters) long on each side, this pyramid is one of the largest structures created in the pre-Columbian New World. It would have been completed around 200 AD. In 1971, an archaeological team discovered a tunnel underneath the pyramid, its entrance located near the Avenue of the Dead.

They dug out the fill in the tunnel finding that it terminated in a cloverleaf shaped chamber which, sadly, had been looted in antiquity. The cave was likely used for rituals of some kind. Another discovery, announced late last year, was a small treasure trove of offerings that may date to when construction of the pyramid began. Among the items found was a green serpentine mask that may have been a portrait of an ancient individual. The Temple of Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent, at Teotihuacan. Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Mexico - Travel Checkpoint Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Mexico April 24, 2012 By Hellasije No comments yet Categories Mexico is a country with so many reasons to visit and so many diverse attractions, that it can be difficult to decide where to go on your vacation. From beaches, islands, Mayan ruins, beautiful architecture and natural reserves, to renowned plastic surgery clinics, Mexico has it all!

The top destinations are as follows: 10 – Copper Canyon Flickr / bdearth Copper Canyon is a group of six canyons that can be seen on a railway track that passes over almost 40 tunnels and through over 80 tunnels. 9 – The Island of Cozumel Flickr / mcwont The Island of Cozumel in the Caribbean Sea is a popular place for snorkeling and diving, discovered and presented to the world by Jacques Cousteau. There is lots of hotels in Cozumel now to choose from. 8 – Cancun Cancun, a city located in Yucatan peninsula, with millions of visitors that come each year, is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Mexico. 7 – Guanajuato Guanajuato is a beautiful colonial city founded in 16th century. The colorful streets and buildings of this miners’ city make it excellent for long walks. 6 – Tijuana Flickr / nathangibbs Tijuana is a city on the US-Mexico border known as a place for buying designer clothes and prescription drugs. In Tijuana, you’re expected to bargain when you go shopping for handcrafts, cigars and souvenirs.

5 – Acapulco Flickr / yosuke.kami Acapulco bay is one of the most popular sites for visitors from the US because of its stunning beaches and fantastic nightlife which includes superb restaurants and great nightclubs. 4 – Teotihuacan Teotihuacan, ancient metropolis of the Mayan people, with the Pyramids of the Sun and of the Moon, can be reached by taxi from Mexico City. 3 – Mexico City Flickr / eeliuth Mexico City, the capital with 9 million inhabitants, is the modern city surrounded by volcanic mountains that offers many interesting things to see, mostly located around the Zocalo square. 2 – Beach paradise Beach paradise in Cancun with its mild climate and great tourist service is the main reason that tourists come to Mexico. Besides being ideal for water sports, this island has several archeological spots that explore Mayan ruins.

1 – Chichen Itza Guanajuato - Mexico - HISTORY.com Guanajuato A+E Networks Introduction Guanajuato, the birthplace of famed muralist Diego Rivera, is also the site of Alhondiga de Ganaditas, a former town granary that became a revolutionary symbol after the heads of insurrectionists Hidalgo, Allende, Aldama and Jimenez were posted at the four corners of the building. A number of important festivals and celebrations occur throughout Guanajuato, including local religious and historical fiestas that celebrate popular folklore and practices. Events such as the Cervantes International Arts Festival, the San Miguel de Allende Chamber Music and Jazz Festival, the Short Film Festival and the State Fair held every January in León attract thousands of visitors from throughout Mexico. History Early History The first known human settlement in Guanajuato existed between 500 and 200 B.C. near Chupicuaro. The group is believed to have been fairly large and agrarian, growing maize along with other crops. Clay figurines from this culture, which are thought to be have evolved into the Teotihuacán society, have been found in the area. Did You Know?

The city of Guanajuato’s so-called “Kiss Alley,” located near the Plazuela de los Ángeles, is only 68 centimeters (around two feet) wide. Couples who visit the alley are supposed to kiss in order to ensure seven years of happiness. The city of Teotihuacán, located in what is now the San Juan Teotihuacán municipality, was established about 200 B.C. At its peak around 600 A.D. the city covered 20 square kilometers (12.5 square miles) and had between 100,000 and 200,000 inhabitants, making it one of the ancient world’s largest urban centers. Although little is known about the inhabitants, the city of Teotihuacán features sophisticated architecture, including apartment complexes and the impressive Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon and Ciudadela, a great sunken plaza. After Teotihuacán was abandoned for unknown reasons between 700 and 900 A.D., other groups in the area came to power, including the Toltecs and Chichimecs, a hunter-gatherer race.

Skilled warriors, the Chichimecs eventually vanquished the Toltecs from the region. Another regional tribe was the Gauchichiles, whose name means heads painted red due to the red paint they used on their bodies and hair. The Gauchichiles, also hunter-gatherers, lived in the area when the Spanish arrived in Mexico . The nearest organized civilization at that time was the Purépechas, who lived throughout modern-day Jalisco and Michoacan. Middle History The Spaniards arrived in the region in 1522, led by Cristóbal de Olid, who had been commissioned by Hernán Cortés to explore northwestern territories (today´s Guianajuato, Jalisco and Nayarit ). In 1523, Cortés distributed some of the region among his lieutenants who established villas and ranches there. In 1529, Spanish explorer Nuño Beltran de Guzmán led a force of 300 Spanish soldiers and a native army of more than 10,000 into the area. Countless indigenous natives were killed and many communities in the region destroyed, including some villas belonging to Cortés’s officers.

Much of the Purépecha territory was conquered by Beltran de Guzman’s army, including modern-day Guanajuato. In 1552, Captain Juan de Jaso, probably acting under orders from Hernan Perez de Bocanegra, discovered mineral deposits in the Guanajuato region and subsequently established Real de Minas (The Royal Mines). The discovery of silver in the region led to rapid settlement by the Spanish throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. The present-day city of Guanajuato was established in 1679. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Catholic Church sent priests to the area to convert the native population to Christianity. More than 15 convents, temples, churches and chapels were built in Guanajuato City alone. Guanajuato was one of the 12 regions that comprised Mexico in the 18th century, reflecting the economic and social importance of the area’s agricultural and mineral production. In 1810, the independence movement began in the city of Dolores, Guanajuato, when priest Miguel Hidalgo rallied patriots to rise up against Spain.

When Hidalgo was captured and shot the following year, his head was displayed at the Alhóndiga de Granaditas government building in Guanajuato. However, his call to arms was answered by rebel forces throughout the land, and the struggle for independence continued for the next decade. Because Guanajuato’s Spanish-owned mining operations had brought economic prosperity to the region, many Guanajuato citizens opposed the independence movement. In spite of the economic factors, Guanajuato signed the Plan of Iguala in 1821, which secured Mexico’s independence at last. For the next 20 years, the state, along with the remainder of the country, experienced political and social instability. Recent History In 1846, after two decades of peace, Mexico City was invaded by the United States during the Mexican-American War . A Guanajuato army led by Gabriel Valencia fiercely opposed the U.S. forces. In September 1847, battalions of soldiers from Guanajuato joined other Mexican troops in an unsuccessful attempt to defend Mexico City.

Under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo , which ended the war in 1848, Mexico was forced to cede a wide swath of its northern territory to the United States. Today, that territory makes up the U.S. states of New Mexico , Nevada , Colorado , Arizona , California and portions of Utah and Wyoming . Mexico was also forced to recognize the independence of Texas . In 1858, Benito Juárez assumed the presidency in Guanajuato and declared it the provisional capital of Mexico. More than two years later, on July 17, 1861, Juárez suspended all interest payments to Spain, France and Britain, who launched a combined assault on Veracruz in January 1862. When Britain and Spain withdrew their forces, the French took control of the country. Supported by Mexican conservatives and by French Emperor Napoleon III, Maximiliano de Hamburgo arrived in 1864 to rule Mexico. Although his policies were more liberal than expected, he soon lost Mexican support and was assassinated on June 19, 1867, when the liberal government of Benito Juárez regained the leadership of the country.

Porfirio Díaz controlled the presidency from 1877 to 1880 and again from 1884 to 1911. During this period, Guanajuato improved its economy through increased agricultural productivity and mining. However, the economic and political power of the indigenous class declined steadily under the Díaz regime while wealthy landowners received financial assistance and tax breaks from the federal government. By 1910, the citizenry had lost patience with Díaz’s self-serving leadership and unwillingness to recognize minority rights. On November 20 of that year, Francisco Madero issued the Plan de San Luis Potosí , which declared the Díaz regime illegal and initiated a revolution against the president. Forces led by Francisco Villa, Emiliano Zapata and Venustiano Carranza supported Madero’s bid for the presidency, and Díaz reluctantly resigned office in 1911. For the next several years, rebel factions battled for political control, causing considerable economic and social hardships for the state’s citizens.

In 1915, two major battles took place in Guanajuato – the Batalla de Celaya (Celaya battle) and the Batalla de León (León Battle). Francisco Villa´s army was defeated by federal troops in both battles, and the rebel movement began to wane soon after. Political turmoil and power exchanges continued for over a decade, ending with the establishment of the Partido Nacional Revolucionario (Institutional Revolutionary Party), which ushered in a period of stability for Mexico City and the rest of the country that lasted until 2000. Guanajuato Today In 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), designed to encourage trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico by eliminating tariffs and lifting many restrictions on various categories of trade goods, went into effect. As a result, industry, trade and tourism flourished in the Guanajuato. The state’s economy has long benefited from its silver mines, which are among the richest in the world. Other minerals harvested from Guanajuato’s mountains are tin, gold, copper, lead, mercury and opals.

The state also leads the nation in the manufacture of shoes and the production of various farm products, such as lettuce, potatoes and fruits. Among the state’s exports are motor vehicles and auto parts, leather goods, chemicals and electric machinery. Facts & Figures Capital: Santa Fé de Guanajuato Major Cities (population): León (1,278,087) Irapuato (463,103) Celaya (415,869) Salamanca (233,623) Guanajuato (153,364) Size/Area: 11,773 square miles

Question: The Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon are popular tourist attractions in which country?
Answer: Mexico