Tajín Veracruz, Archaeological complex in northern Veracruz, Mexico.

Tajín Veracruz is an archaeological complex in the northern state of Veracruz in Mexico with temples, palaces and several courts for the ball game. The stepped pyramid with its regular recesses forms the central structure of this wide ceremonial site.

Construction of ceremonial buildings probably began in the 1st century CE, and by 600 CE El Tajín was a city whose position on Mesoamerican trade routes, controlling goods such as vanilla, drove its rise. It dominated the region between the Cazones and Tecolutla rivers from 600 to 1200. It was already deserted when the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, and in 1785 inspector Diego Ruiz came upon the Pyramid of the Niches.

The name comes from the Totonac language and refers to the sacred lightning of the original people. The ball courts still display stone rings and reliefs that show the ritual game of this culture.

The site opens daily from 8 AM to 5 PM and offers guided tours in several languages. Mexican citizens have free entry on Sundays and can visit the place without additional costs.

At dawn the sun rises over the Cerro de los Mantenimientos and lights the Pyramid of the Niches from top to bottom over about seven minutes, one per tier, because the building is aligned with that hill. Altars were placed on the hill for Quetzalcóatl.