7 mystical pyramids hidden in Mexico City

One of Mexico City greatest attractions is, without a doubt, the large amount of archaeological sites that extend throughout it, being the only metropolis in the world that can count among its treasures pre-Hispanic ruins, legacy of the advanced civilizations that populated this region hundreds of years ago.  

The pyramids have always been a cosmic expression of man’s search for meaning and an understating of nature and the universe. Theocratic constructions were used as ceremonial temples to worship the gods. Over time, Catholic churches were built on top of pyramids and archaeological cities, making it challenging for anthropologists to learn their origins and evolution. Visiting the pyramids today is still very much a journey of discovery into an extraordinary past, and an experience not to be missed. 

Many impressive sites have been restored, while others are hidden away on remote hilltops or shrouded in thick jungle, and can be the most exciting and rewarding to visit, for those with an adventurous spirit.

Here are 7 archaeological sites worthwhile exploring when you are in Mexico City. 

 

Cerro de la Estrella 

Cerro de la Estrella is a Mexican archaeological site located in the Iztapalapa borough, in Mexico City, at an elevation of 2460 meters (8070ft) above sea level; hence its Summit is 224 m over the Valley of Mexico level. Archaeological evidence reveals the existence of a housing zone in the middle of the hill, built during the late Classic period (600 to 900 AD). Historical sources establish that ancient inhabitants of the Mexican Plateau knew this place as Huizachtecatl. The site was very important since the “New Fire” ritual ceremony was performed there. 

The Mexicas inherited the Toltec tradition to worship the Sun, deity that governed life of all beings and thought that human hearts were required to please him in addition to the blood on prisoner soldiers. For that reason, every 52 years, when the beginning of the calendars (Civil and Religious) coincided, the sacerdotal class performed the New Fire ceremony, to prevent the Sun’s death, as they thought, would cause total darkness of the universe. A small pyramid can still be appreciated on the archaeological site.

Cerro de la Estrella is one of Mexico City’s oldest archaeological sites. The best way to get there is to take the metro, line 8, and get off at Estación Cerro de la Estrella; or line 12 will get you to Estación Culhuacán.  

Cerro Mazatépetl Pyramid

The Mazatépetl is an Eco-archeological Park located on San Bernabé Ocotepec, on a large hill called Cerro del Judío or Mazatépetl. It contains a pyramid at the top of the hill, originally constructed between 1200 and 1380 by the Otomi. Mazatépetl is one of oldest stone constructions in the Valley of Mexico.  The pyramid itself shows, at the foot of the steps, the face of a turtle with the claws of a jaguar; here are three crosses at the top of the pyramid, which have been added local Catholics.  Some of the area’s rural character is still preserved in the observances of religious festivals. The day of the Cross-, which is celebrated on May 3^rd, is a popular festival in the Magdalena Contreras borough, especially in the La Cruz neighborhood and the Cerro de Judío. During Holy Week, the custom of erecting altars in honor of the Virgin of Sorrows is still observed. 

 

Tequipa Pyramid

Located in the south of the city, in Tlalpan, in a town called Santo Tomás Ajusco, there is a pyramid with perforations sadly is used as a dumpster. Unfortunately, it remains abandoned and deteriorated. The structure dates back to the Post-classic period (1325-1521), which according to sources it was built by the Tepanecas who fled Azcapotzalco, and migrated to the Cerro del Judío, establishing themselves in Tequipa. Archaeologist Blanca Paredes claims “Tequipa was a ceremonial center with people living in its periphery. The peak of the structure once had a figure, and pre-Hispanic chest made of basalt, named “El Cuartillo”, which was extracted from there and taken to the Santo Tomás Ajusco church atrium.  

 

Ehécatl Pyramid

Also known as “La Casa del Viento” (The house of the wind), this archeological site is located, surprisingly, inside an underground station in the area of the Historical Centre. It consists of a small circular altar, which was possibly dedicated to the God of the Wind, known as Ehécatl. This small pyramid is a shrine in honor of a deity associated with the wind, who features in Aztec mythology and other cultures. The small pyramid measures 88m2, and was discovered by archaeologists in 1968. The façade is quadrangular, while its backside is circular. Since the wind blows in all directions, Ehécatl was associated with all the cardinal directions. This temple was built as a cylinder in order to reduce the air resistance, and was sometimes portrayed with two protruding masks through which the wind blew.

 

Cuicuilco Pyramid

One of the oldest significant remnants of pre-Hispanic settlement within the Distrito Federal, Cuicuilco echoes a civilization that stood on the shores of Lago de Xochimilco as far back as 800 BC. In its heyday in the 2nd century BC, the ‘place of singing and dancing’ counted as many as 40,000 inhabitants; at this time, the Teotihuacán civilization was only just beginning to rise to importance. The site was abandoned a couple of centuries later, however, after an eruption of the nearby Xitle volcano covered most of the community in lava.

Based on its date of occupation (c. 700 BCE- 150 CE periods), Cuicuilco may be the oldest city in the Valley of Mexico, and the first important civic-religious center of the Mexican Highlands. It was originally founded as a farming village, but presents evidence of early religious practices including stone offerings and the use of ceramics and grave goods. The city grew around a large ceremonial center with pyramids and an urban area that included plazas and avenues bordering a series of small, shallow pools. Site features include terraces, various buildings, fortifications, and irrigation ditches and canals.

Today, Cuicuilco is divided into two zones: Cuicuilco A, where the ceremonial center is located. The other is called Cuicuilco B and lays West of Cuicuilco A, in the Olympic village Sports Centre. Compared to other sites, it has barely been studied because the area is covered almost entirely with a lava layer of about 9 to 10 meters thick. This difficulty is compounded by urbanization of the area, with constructions directly above the archaeological site, such as the Telmex building and the Cuicuilco commercial Plaza in 1997.

 

Mixcoac 

In colonia San Pedro de los Pinos, corner of avenida San Antonio and Periférico, is a pyramid with stone carvings and slopes, which dates back to 900 AD. The name “Mixcóac” comes from the Nahuatl language and means “Place of the Serpent Cloud”, alluding to the Milky Way and the Dod Mixcóatl.  Before the Spanish conquest there was a small settlement on the edge of Lake Texcoco, which was destroyed with the arrival of the Spaniards. In 1521, the Mexicas rebuilt the site and it became a center of festivities with musicians and dancers from Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco. Today, cultural activities are staged in what is called Centro Cultural La Pirámide.

 

Templo Mayor

According to legend, the Aztecs were told by a god to find a place where an eagle stood upon a cactus with a snake in its beak, and there, to build their city Tenochtitlan; thus, the Aztec capital became epicenter of the powerful Aztec Empire. In 1978, some electricity workers unearthed an 8-tonne stone disc of Coyolxauqui, an Aztec goddess. Further exploration revealed that there was an entire archaeological wonder lying beneath Mexico City’s streets, and a decision was taken to demolish some old colonial buildings, to reveal the Templo Mayor (Main Temple) and the place where it is believed the Aztecs saw the sign given to them by their gods. The temple is thought to be on the exact spot where the Aztecs saw their symbolic eagle, perching on a cactus with a snake in its beak – the symbol of Mexico today. In Aztec belief this was, literally, the center of the universe.

The entrance to the temple site and museum is east of the cathedral, across the Plaza del Templo Mayor. Authorized tour guides (with Sectur ID) offer their services by the entrance. There is an available audio guide in English.

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