Chichen-Itza

Chichen-Itza
Chichen Itza is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya civilization located in the northern center of the Yucatán Peninsula, present-day Mexico. It is one of the most important examples of the Mayan-Toltec civilization in Yucatán.

Chichen Itza was a major regional center in the northern Maya lowlands from the Late Classic through the Terminal Classic and into the early portion of the Early Postclassic period. The site exhibits a multitude of architectural styles, from what is called “Mexicanized” and reminiscent of styles seen in central Mexico to the Puuc style found among the Puuc Maya of the northern lowlands. The presence of central Mexican styles was once thought to have been representative of direct migration or even conquest from central Mexico, but most contemporary interpretations view the presence of these non-Maya styles more as the result of cultural diffusion.

Archaeological data, such as evidence of burning at a number of important structures and architectural complexes, suggest that Chichen Itza's collapse was violent. Following the decline of Chichen Itza's hegemony, regional power in the Yucatán shifted to a new center at Mayapan.

Sports Arenas . WHS Hotspot . Pyramids . Mayan culture .

Reviews

Lourdes Vicente (Canada):
Amazing site on he top of the ruin. If you want to visit, avoid the months of June-August...it's very hot and lots of tourist. The culture and the history is quite amazing. Overall, it's a magical place and you should go and see it.
Date posted: May 2008
zack culvert (USA):
Really scary coming down the pyramid, I remember from 10 years ago. The ballcourt should not be missed, nor the acoustics of the court, where you can hear people speaking from a football field away.
Date posted: March 2006
Philip T.K. (Canada):
I visited Chichen Itza on a day tour from Cancun during the summer of 2005. It is extremely hot so remember to bring a hat! After an hour of listening to my guide with two dozen other sweating people, we were given one hour free time to explore on our own. I spent a large part of that hour waiting in line to go inside the pyramid and I must say I was very disappointed. There was nothing to see inside except for a jaguar throne and it was actually hotter inside the pyramid than outside of it! After that disappointed experience, I had just enough time to climb up and down the pyramid before I had to return to the tour bus. Overall, I very much enjoyed my visit and you should definitely go visit it if you are in the area.
Date posted: October 2005


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