If you have already had the privilege of visiting the ruins of Tulum and want to continue discovering all the archaeological sites distributed throughout Mexico, here you can find relevant information about one of them.

Location of Monte Alban

Monte Alban is located only 8 kilometers from the city of Oaxaca, so if you are in the city it is a good opportunity for sightseeing in the state of Oaxaca. Just 15 minutes away you will be able to appreciate a man-made wonder, one of the most important in this part of Mexico.

The pyramids of Monte Alban

They are not pyramids as such as we imagine, but bases that in ancient times could have been temples. These are the structures known as the Pyramid and the Palace, both still standing.

In addition to the pyramids, the archaeological site also includes the Gran Plaza, a huge space in the center of the site that occupies no less than 300 meters. Different temples, palaces and ball games were also built.

You can also visit the different stelae that are scattered throughout the site. These tell the stories of the ancient inhabitants and represent characteristic scenes of their history with priests, warriors or prisoners as the main protagonists.

Zapotec culture of Monte Alban

Although the original name of the mountain is unknown, it is believed that it could mean something like “jaguar hill. Founded in 500 B.C., the city gained great importance over the years, becoming one of the most important cities. This was the capital of the Zapotecs until the beginning of 800 AD.

One of the most characteristic examples of the Zapotec culture in the archaeological zone of Monte Albán is tomb 7, which was reused to bury a dignitary who lived some time later. In fact, it was in 1932 when this ancient tomb was found, where an important Mixtec citizen rested. In it were more than 600 objects, many of them made of gold.

Characteristics of Monte Alban

Much of the architecture at Monte Albán is influenced by a variety of factors, from Teotihuacan to Mixtec. This is because the construction of most of the buildings in the city where the Monte is located were created by the Teotihuacanos, but they abandoned the city.

Later, those who populated the city were the Mixtec citizens. Due to its great cultural importance, the area was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. It also received, by presidential decree, the honor of being part of the zone of archaeological monuments, with a protected area of more than 2,000 hectares.

Besides being able to appreciate the archaeological zone, you can also access the Museum of the precinct. The resort is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the entrance ticket costs approximately 80 pesos.