Templo Mayor

The Templo Mayor is a multi-level sanctuary in the historic center of the capital whose stone platforms and stairways now lie below modern street level. The excavated areas reveal the foundations of several structures built one atop another, along with remnants of altars and ceremonial objects.

The first structure rose in the early 14th century on an island in Lake Texcoco as the central sanctuary of a newly founded city. Successive rulers expanded the complex over two centuries until Spanish forces dismantled it in the early 16th century and repurposed its stones for the cathedral.

The name of the sanctuary honors the two most important deities of the Aztec realm, to whom the twin towers on the upper platform were dedicated. Today visitors stand among the exposed foundations and can trace the original westward and southward orientation of the ritual chambers.

The grounds open Tuesday through Sunday in the morning and close in the late afternoon, giving visitors ample time to explore the exposed levels at a comfortable pace. Arriving early means fewer crowds and cooler temperatures for the outdoor walk.

Archaeologists discovered seven earlier building phases beneath the visible ruins, each erected by a different ruler over nearly two centuries. These nested layers allow visitors today to trace the development of religious architecture from the founding to the fall of the realm.