Mayapan

Welcome to the ancient city of Mayapan, situated in the arid lowlands of the northern Yucatan Peninsula. As you stand before these remarkable ruins, you are looking at the remnants of what was once the most important political…

We begin our exploration at the perimeter of the civic center, where the remnants of the great defensive wall once stood as an imposing deterrent against invasion. The construction of a nine kilometer wall around a Maya city was…

Moving into the heart of the ceremonial center, we enter the Plaza of the Columns. Here, you are surrounded by the ruins of long, multi roomed halls characterized by rows of stout cylindrical stone columns. …

Towering above the plaza is the most iconic structure in Mayapan, the Temple of Kukulkan. Spanish conquerors later named it El Castillo, meaning the castle. …

Adjacent to the great pyramid, we find a cluster of smaller, intricately decorated buildings that offer a glimpse into the artistic sophistication of the Mayapan artisans. It is in these smaller structures attached to the main…

A short walk from the central plaza brings us to a highly unusual architectural feature. This is the round astronomical observatory. …

Leaving the monumental architecture of the civic center, we step into the vast residential zone that fills the area within the great wall. Here, the landscape is dotted with the remains of thousands of domestic structures. …

As our journey through Mayapan concludes, we must reflect on the violent end of this magnificent capital. For over two centuries, the city thrived as the supreme power of the Yucatan. …