Home > Destinations > North America > Mexico > Introduction > The Best Ancient Sites
Bookstore Travel Talk - Our Message Boards Tips and Tools Book a Trip Deals and News Trip Ideas, Activities, Lifestyles Hotels Destinations Frommers.com Home
Frommer's - The best trips start here. Frommer's - The best trips start here.

FREE Newsletters!		 Sign up for our FREE Newsletters!
Win a FREE Trip!		 Win a FREE Trip
Mexico
Introduction
Best Dining Bets
The Best Active Vacations
The Best Ancient Sites
The Best Art, Architecture & Museums
The Best Beach Vacations
The Best Cultural Experiences
The Best Hotel Bargains
The Best Luxury Hotels
The Best Natural Attractions
The Best Places to Get Away from It All
The Best Shopping
The Best Resorts & Spas
What's New
Planning a Trip
In Depth
Active Pursuits
Suggested Itineraries
Mexico Events
Mexico Maps
Message Boards
Mexico Photos
View More Places in Mexico
Index
  Email This Article Email Print This Article Print Get Frommer's RSS Feed RSS

The Best Ancient Sites

  • Teotihuacán: So close to Mexico City, yet centuries away. You can feel the majesty of the past in a stroll down the pyramid-lined Avenue of the Dead, from the Pyramid of the Sun to the Pyramid of the Moon. Imagine what a fabulous place this must have been when the walls were stuccoed and painted brilliant colors.

  • Monte Albán: A grand ceremonial city built on a mountaintop overlooking the valley of Oaxaca, Monte Albán offers the visitor panoramic vistas; a fascinating view of a society in transition, reflected in the contrasting methods of pyramid construction; and intriguing details in ornamentation.

  • Palenque: Like the pharaohs of Egypt, the rulers of Palenque built tombs deep within their pyramids. Imagine the magnificent ceremony in A.D. 683 when King Pacal was entombed in his magnificent burial chamber, which lay unspoiled until its discovery in 1952.

  • Ek Balam: Archaeologists at this site have made the most astonishing discoveries of the decade. Ek Balam's main pyramid is taller than Chichén Itzá's, and it holds a sacred doorway bordered with elaborate stucco figures of priests and kings and rich iconography.

  • Uxmal: No matter how many times you see Uxmal, the splendor of its stone carvings is awe-inspiring. A stone rattlesnake undulates across the facade of the Nunnery complex, and 103 masks of the rain god Chaac project out from the Governor's Palace.

  • Chichén Itzá: Stand beside the giant serpent head at the foot of El Castillo pyramid and marvel at the architects and astronomers who positioned the building so precisely that shadow and sunlight form a serpent's body slithering from the peak to the earth at each equinox (Mar 21 and Sept 21).


    Back to Top


    Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.


      Email This Article Email Print This Article Print Get Frommer's RSS Feed RSS
    Frommer's Mexico 2008 Frommer's Mexico 2008

    Author: David Baird
    Pub Date: October 08, 2007
    Price: $21.99

    Buy Now!     		Related Titles:
    Cancun & the Yucatan For Dummies, 3rd Edition
    Frommer's Cancun & the Yucatan Day by Day, 1st Edition
    Frommer's Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan 2008
    • Home | Destinations | Hotels | Trip Ideas | Deals & News | Book a Trip | Tips & Tools | Travel Talk | Bookstore
    About Frommer's | FAQ | Contact Us | Help | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Advertise With Us
    Add Frommers.com RSS Feed  Add Frommers.com RSS Feed (What's This?)
    Add Frommers.com Deals & News to Your Web Site
    Add to My Yahoo!     Add to My MSN     More RSS Readers
    Add Frommers.com Podcast Add Frommers.com Podcast (What's This?)
    © 2000-2008 by Wiley Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
    Home > Destinations > North America > Mexico > Introduction > The Best Ancient Sites