Renamed El Castillo by spaniards but it was never a castle

At the equinox a snake appears to descend these steps

The great ballcourt. The winning captain would be decapitated by the losing captain!

Chichen Itza (from Valladolid)

Jan 21–23, 2024 in Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

So today we visited Chichen Itza, we left at first light to beat the crowds and were there for just after opening at 8am.

This was an impressive sight with lots to see and take in. Hopefully the photos do it justice.

Chichen Itza was a center of pilgrimage for the ancient Maya for over 1,000 years. The Mayas inhabited the city from 500 AD to 900 AD, when the Maya civilization declined. Around 987 AD, the ruler of the Toltec people of central Mexico came to Chichen Itza, and with his Maya allies made the site the most powerful city in the Yucatan.

Maya were still going on pilgrimage to the ruins of Chichen Itza when the Spanish arrived.Read more