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Archaeological site · Cidade do México, Cidade do México
Templo Mayor
Ruins of the main temple of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tláloc, with an eight-room museum next to the Zócalo.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Templo Mayor
The Templo Mayor was the great temple of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Mexica (Aztecs). It had two shrines at the top, one for Huitzilopochtli, god of war, and another for Tláloc, god of rain, and it was enlarged seven times, one layer on top of another, from 1325. After the conquest in 1521, the Spaniards demolished it and used the stones in the new city.
The ruins remained buried until 1978, when workers from the electric company found, a little over 2 meters deep, a stone disk of more than 3 meters with the figure of the goddess Coyolxauhqui. The discovery started the excavations that revealed the temple’s layers next to the Cathedral.
The visit follows walkways above the ruins, where you can see the stairways of the different phases, stone serpent heads and the sanctuary with traces of paint. The site museum, opened in 1987, has eight rooms with the offerings found, the Coyolxauhqui disk and the monolith of Tlaltecuhtli, the largest known Aztec sculpture.
The site and the museum form a single visit with the same ticket. It is the best place in the city to understand what Tenochtitlan was like before the Spaniards arrived, and pairs well with the National Museum of Anthropology.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
One and a half to two hours for the ruins and the museum.
Best time
In the morning when it opens, to walk the paths with fewer people. It often closes on Mondays; check before you go.
How to get there
At the northeast corner of the Zócalo, behind the Cathedral. Metro line 2, Zócalo/Tenochtitlan station.
Tip
Start with the ruins and finish in the museum: the objects make more sense after seeing the temple’s layers.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Templo Mayor
What is the Templo Mayor?
It was the main temple of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tláloc. It was destroyed during the Spanish conquest and rediscovered in 1978, next to the Cathedral.
Is the Templo Mayor museum included with the ticket?
Yes. The ruins and the site's museum form a single visit with the same ticket.
What is the most famous piece in the Templo Mayor museum?
The stone disk of the goddess Coyolxauhqui, found in 1978, and the monolith of Tlaltecuhtli, the largest known Aztec sculpture.