Unveiling Xochicalco: Mexico’s Ancient Archaeological Gem and Trade Hub
The State of Morelos and Cuernavaca
The state of Morelos is the second-smallest by area in the Mexican federation, with only 4,950 sq km. However, it has many historical sites and nice towns to visit, starting with its capital, Cuernavaca, which is about 55 km south of Mexico City and only 45 minutes by car (or 1 hour and 30 minutes from the international airport) along the highway that goes to Acapulco.
Cuernavaca: The City of Eternal Spring
Cuernavaca is known as “the city of eternal spring” because it has a great climate, with an average temperature of 20 oC all year long. Cuernavaca’s old name, Cuauhnahuac, comes from the Nahuatl language and means “placed near the forest.” Seven hundred years ago, the city was built almost 1,600 meters above sea level in the Sierra Madre mountains. It is a great place to start interesting trips in the area, where the famous Los Conventos del Volcan are located, along the slopes of the Parque Nacional el Tepozteco. To remember that an Augustinian monastery was in Totoplan, along with Tepoztlan, Oaxtepec, and Totoplan.
Monuments in Cuernavaca
There are interesting monuments to see in the city of Cuernavaca. The Cathedral of Asuncion is also stunning.. The great Palace of Cortes (Palacio de Cortès) has the Cuhauhnahuac Museum inside. The beautiful pyramid of Teopanzolco, which has steps made of stone, is 10 minutes north of the city center and not far from the train tracks. It is in the suburbs.
Xochicalco: The Ancient Archaeological Site
But the trip to the ruins of Xochicalco is the most well-known trip that can be taken. One of the most interesting and valuable archaeological sites in all of Mexico is Xochicalco. It was already a settled area between 800 and 900 AD, which is when Teotihuacan was destroyed and Tollan began.
Historical Significance
Not only was Xochicalco the oldest fort in Central America, but it was also a very important religious center. Already in the early 9th century, Xochicalco must have been an important commercial center because it was on the trade routes that connected the pre-Columbian crops of northern and southern Mexico.
The Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl
The name Xochicalco means “the place of flowers,” even though the mountains around it are pretty dry right now. From the Plaza Ceremonial, which looks out over the whole area where the Temple of Quetzalcoatl stands magnificently with its feathered serpent head, you can get a great view of the site.
Description of the Pyramid
The pyramid of Quetzalcoatl is a temple that is about 17 meters tall and has a base that is about 20 meters wide. The sides of the pyramid are decorated with very hard stone slabs that are joined together so well that you can barely see where they meet. Above the pyramid is a picture of the feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl.
Its heads are at the corners of the pyramid. A priest is sitting cross-legged in the snake’s coils. He is wearing a fancy headdress that looks a lot like Mayan headdresses. As was common in pre-Columbian architecture, the building is aligned with the cardinal points. This shows how well the local people knew about astronomy.
Cuautla: A Spa Town
Cuautla is a spa town about 1300m above sea level that is east of Xochicalco and just south of El Tepozteco National Park. It is the second biggest city in the state of Morelos. People come to Agua Hedionda to see the sulfur mineral springs that bubble up at 27 degrees Celsius. A great way to relax after being tired from traveling.
