Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is now one of the new 7 wonders of the world and is now also listed by Unesco as a world heritage site.

Chichen Itza was a centre of pilgrimage for the ancient Maya for over 1,000 years. About 987 the ruler of the Toltec people of central Mexico came here, and with his Maya allies made Chichen Itza the most powerful city in the Yucatan. The ruler called himself "Kukulcan", the name of the Mesoamerican Feathered Serpent deity and Chichen Itza became a centre for worship of that god as well.

About 1221 the Maya revolted against the rulers of Chichen Itza. The city was not abandoned, but as political power shifted elsewhere it declined and no major new buildings were constructed. Chichen Itza remained a place of pilgrimage for the Maya until it was conquered by the Spanish Conquistadors in the 16th century.
The structures of Chichen Itza were overgrown with jungle and slowly decayed until major archaeological projects began in the 1920s. Since then, more of the ancient structures have been cleared and restored.

The Pyramid of Kukulcan or El Castillo (the castle) is the most famous landmark of Chichen Itza. This was a temple-pyramid dedicated to the Feathered Serpent God, Kukulcan. Sculptures of the Feathered Serpents run down the sides of the northern staircase. A curious phenomenon that occurs on the Spring and Fall equinoxes as the sun sets is the light and shadow patterns caused by the corner tiers that appear on the northern staircase resembling a snake culminating in the head at the foot of the stairs (there's a photo I took of a poster that shows this). This temple was actually built over a smaller, interior temple which can still be accessed - just not by the public. Only 50% of the temple has been restored so far.

Other monuments in the area include:
Temple of the Warriors - this is the one with all the columns.
The Great Market
Great Ballcourt - there are 7 courts for playing the Mesoamerican ballgame played with a solid latex ball which could only be hit with (heavily protected) right shoulder, elbow, hip or knee. The object was to get the ball through the hoop at the top of the stadium (as the hoop is about 50 feet off the ground, that was no mean feat!)
Temple of the Jaguars - Attached to the ballcourt complex, with stone jaguar, feathered serpent columns, and murals inside.
Sweatbaths - These played an important part in ancient Maya spiritual traditions as places to purify the mind, body, and emotions, thus getting in touch with one´s pure spiritual energy.
Platform of the Skulls - the dead were left here for scavenging by vultures.
Cenote of Sacrifice - the Sacred Cenote (a large natural well or limestone sink hole) was holy to the ancient Rain God "Chac" and humans were sacrificed there by drowning.