Templo Mayor

Templo Mayor is the ruined central temple of the Mexica (Aztec) capital Tenochtitlan, now preserved in downtown Mexico City next to the Zócalo. The site includes exposed foundations, platforms and a museum that presents finds from the temple precinct.

Key finds include the large carved stone disc known as the Coyolxauhqui stone and numerous ritual offerings and sculptures recovered from the temple’s sacrificial deposits. The archaeological park is compact and interpreted with display panels and an adjacent museum that houses many of the excavated objects.

The pyramid complex originally supported twin shrines to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc and was the ceremonial heart of Tenochtitlan until the Spanish destruction of the city in 1521. Modern excavation and conservation began in the late 20th century and continue to inform understanding of Mexica ritual architecture.

The ruins and museum are located in the historic centre of Mexico City, immediately east of the Metropolitan Cathedral and within the main archaeological zone of the old capital island.

• Modern excavations: Excavations that exposed the temple complex began in earnest after a major discovery in 1978 and have continued to reveal offerings and sculptures.
• Location advantage: The site sits immediately adjacent to Mexico City's main plaza and cathedral, making it easy to combine with visits to the historic centre.

What to See #

• Templo Mayor Museum: The on-site museum displays artefacts recovered during excavations, including offerings, stone sculptures and the large circular Coyolxauhqui stone recovered in 1978.
• Excavated temple precinct: The archaeological remains include the exposed foundations and truncated pyramidal platform levels of the main temple precinct, visible beside the museum and plaza.