We had a good flight from Miami to Mexico City and have a great apartment overlooking Alameda, the main city park in the Centro Historico. The night views are fantastic with key buildings illuminated and the shanties of the "farvella" twinkling in the mountain foothills.
The Opera House or Palacio de Bellas Artes at night.
Directly opposite our room is a large monument also illuminated at night. The park was a picture !
The view from our room
We set out to explore the remains of the largest Aztec temple located in the centre of Mexico City. Had lots to see on the way! The first stop was the monument that was occupied by a group protesting. Not sure but think it was Chile politics. Then it was the fountains and park buildings.
Fountain in the park.
Another fountain. It was a little cool with the high elevation hence the jacket.
Our first major stop was at the beautiful opera house and museum of fine arts. A wonderful building. We missed a folkloric performance last night but the building was interesting as was the museum.
A grand colonial building.
The plush interior.
We then walked up to the main square or Plaza de la Constitucion or simply Zocalo. This is the site of most of the major buildings in Mexico City along with the temple ruins and the church that replaced it.
The Metropolitan Cathedral is a grand church and would feel at home in any major city of Spain or Europe. It was built on a grand scale.
The entry to the Cathedral.
The gilt of the interior. Enlarge this to see the Black Jesus common throughout Central and South America.
The detail in the workmanship is excellent.
Out in the Plaza there were lots of Aztec dancers performing. They were also performing smoke
ceremonies and collecting a few pesos.
Colourful costumes and interesting rituals.
A close up.
The absolute highlight was our visit the the ruins of Tenochtitlan and the Templo Mayor. This city was the largest in the world and the height of civilization until it was conquered and destroyed by Cortez and the Conquistadors.
The most important political and religious buildings were clustered in the sacred precinct of Tenochtitlan. A platform 460metres by 430 metres with four entrances surrounded the sacred space. There were 78 temples within this area. The architecture and spacial arrangement adhered to a strict cosmological plan as the sacred precinct replicated the universe itself.
The Templo Mayor or Great Temple was considered to be the navel of the cosmos, the centre radiating out on four causeways symbolising the direction of the universe.
Following the defeat of the Aztec empire this complex was destroyed! The cathedral was built on top of the site. In recent years much archaeological work has been undertaken and many incredible finds unearthed. I ran out of memory in the museum there were so many treasures to photograph!
Part of the Temple site
A diagram to show the relative size of the main temple and the cathedral that replaced it along with
the pyramids of Egypt, The main Maya temple, the Parthenon in Athens and the Colosseum in Rome.
A serpent figure at the temple.
I do understand that I am not the centre of the Cosmos!
The different rulers added to the temple complex and in all there were seven layers like those remaining. Most has been destroyed.
Lots has been unearthed in recent digs.
Where possible they have been left in situ
The wall of skulls
Pot with image thought to be the God of Fire.
Huitzilopochtli. He was a strong ruler elevated to God status.
Another treasure unearthed.
It all came to an end on 8/11/1519 when Cortez arrived! So to finish, a photo of the temple ruins along with the Metropolitan Cathedral.
The Opera House or Palacio de Bellas Artes at night.
Directly opposite our room is a large monument also illuminated at night. The park was a picture !
The view from our room
We set out to explore the remains of the largest Aztec temple located in the centre of Mexico City. Had lots to see on the way! The first stop was the monument that was occupied by a group protesting. Not sure but think it was Chile politics. Then it was the fountains and park buildings.
Fountain in the park.
Another fountain. It was a little cool with the high elevation hence the jacket.
Our first major stop was at the beautiful opera house and museum of fine arts. A wonderful building. We missed a folkloric performance last night but the building was interesting as was the museum.
A grand colonial building.
The plush interior.
We then walked up to the main square or Plaza de la Constitucion or simply Zocalo. This is the site of most of the major buildings in Mexico City along with the temple ruins and the church that replaced it.
The Metropolitan Cathedral is a grand church and would feel at home in any major city of Spain or Europe. It was built on a grand scale.
The entry to the Cathedral.
The gilt of the interior. Enlarge this to see the Black Jesus common throughout Central and South America.
The detail in the workmanship is excellent.
Out in the Plaza there were lots of Aztec dancers performing. They were also performing smoke
ceremonies and collecting a few pesos.
Colourful costumes and interesting rituals.
A close up.
The absolute highlight was our visit the the ruins of Tenochtitlan and the Templo Mayor. This city was the largest in the world and the height of civilization until it was conquered and destroyed by Cortez and the Conquistadors.
The most important political and religious buildings were clustered in the sacred precinct of Tenochtitlan. A platform 460metres by 430 metres with four entrances surrounded the sacred space. There were 78 temples within this area. The architecture and spacial arrangement adhered to a strict cosmological plan as the sacred precinct replicated the universe itself.
The Templo Mayor or Great Temple was considered to be the navel of the cosmos, the centre radiating out on four causeways symbolising the direction of the universe.
Following the defeat of the Aztec empire this complex was destroyed! The cathedral was built on top of the site. In recent years much archaeological work has been undertaken and many incredible finds unearthed. I ran out of memory in the museum there were so many treasures to photograph!
Part of the Temple site
A diagram to show the relative size of the main temple and the cathedral that replaced it along with
the pyramids of Egypt, The main Maya temple, the Parthenon in Athens and the Colosseum in Rome.
A serpent figure at the temple.
I do understand that I am not the centre of the Cosmos!
The different rulers added to the temple complex and in all there were seven layers like those remaining. Most has been destroyed.
Lots has been unearthed in recent digs.
Where possible they have been left in situ
The wall of skulls
Pot with image thought to be the God of Fire.
Huitzilopochtli. He was a strong ruler elevated to God status.
Another treasure unearthed.
It all came to an end on 8/11/1519 when Cortez arrived! So to finish, a photo of the temple ruins along with the Metropolitan Cathedral.
3 comments:
What a fascinating time you're having. The excavation and museum especially interesting. Hope you're coping with the altitude OK. xo
No altitude problems. Nothing like Cusco or Colca Canyon.
Was the Indian hanging out with a cowboy, sailor, motorcycle cop,construction worker, and a guy in leather?
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