Teotihuacan, Tlatelolco and Guadalupe Shrine
Travel through Mexico’s history in one day
For many tourists in Mexico City, a visit to the pyramids is a must. And for that reason, Teotihuacan is the second most visited archaeological site in Mexico. Charlie wanted to see it too, of course, but most of all, she wanted to learn more about the civilizations that made Mexico what it is today. The trip that combined Tlatelolco, the Guadalupe Shrine and Teotihuacan seemed to be the perfect offer to learn about the most influential parts of the country’s history. Teotihuacan is a place that is even older than the Aztec culture, Tlatelolco was the last bastion of the Aztecs before the country became the New Spain and the Guadalupe Shrine was built after the conquest and has become one of the most important pilgrim destinations in the Catholic world.
Guided tour to Teotihuacan
You can visit all three places on your own and by public transport. There are also options to book a guided tour on site. Charlie chose the guided day trip to be able to get to all three places in one day. She had originally booked a tour that included a hot air ballon ride over the archaeological site in the early morning, but that got cancelled. The other tour was the next best thing. It was a packed day, and they didn’t have as much time as Charlie would have liked in some of the places, but a good option if you have limited time for your trip to Mexico City.
Tlatelolco
The first stop was at Tlatelolco where you can still see the remains of the Aztec temples that once stood in this place. Opposite the temple is now a Catholic church and it is obvious that this church has been built with the same bricks that previously formed the temple. The tour guide explained in this place how the Aztecs had originally settled in the area and how the two cities Mexico-Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco were conquered by the Spanish.
In the same location is also the Plaza de las Tres Culturas, the square of the three cultures, meaning the Aztec, the Spanish and modern Mexico. There is a memorial that commemorates a massacre that happened in the same spot in 1993.
The Guadalupe Shrine
The legend says that the indigenous Juan Diegito (who had been baptised to a Spanish name) saw the Virgin Guadalupe on a nearby hill. She had told him to build a Catholic church. The tissue on which her image appeared is today the reason why many Catholics visit this place. The original church is no longer there. It has been replaced over time with larger churches of which there are now two. One dates back to colonial times and it is – like the cathedral in the historic centre – slowly sinking and bending due to the soft ground the city was built on. The younger church has a circular shape and can hold up to 10.000 people. In between the two is a statue of Pope John Paul II and a staircase that leads up to the hill where the Virgin appeared.
No matter the religion you believe in, the place is open to all and worth a visit. It tells about an important part of Mexico’s history and from the highest point of the hill, the view over the city is stunning.
Teotihuacan
It was the main destination of this trip, yet Charlie had to be a little patient. They could already see one of the pyramids from the bus, when they turned into a drive to a tourist centre and restaurant. There, they had lunch, learned about the obsidian that has been extracted in the area since pre-historic times, and they tried pulque, tequila and mezcal.
After lunch, it was finally time to visit the archaeological site of Teotihuacan. It had been sunny all morning and Charlie was sceptical when the guide reminded everyone to put on sunscreen. Dark clouds were approaching at the same time. And of course, it started pouring down just as they had arrived in Teotihuacan. The one thing Charlie did not bring was a raincoat. Luckily, the souvenir shop had enough in stock for all the people visiting the site that afternoon. They could not visit certain parts inside the ancient buildings because of the rain. Charlie still enjoyed the walk in between the ancient walls, admired how well-preserved the murals were and took a humble picture in front of the giant pyramids.
Teotihuacan was built by an ancient civilization that we don’t know much about. One thing is sure: it wasn’t the Aztecs. Teotihuacan is much older. Charlie was fascinated by the structures and how well they have been maintained over two millennia. It is a good thing that the place had already been abandoned when the Spanish arrived and was not used a source of building materials for the New Spain.
