What was Chichen Itza famous for?

In ancient, pre-Colombian times, Chichen Itza was a vibrant city with a diverse population of Mayan people extending well into the tens of thousands. Today, the site is home to the remnants of many ancient Mayan structures, including the famed El Castillo pyramid that dominates the site's center.



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If you are planning a trip to Mexico, Here are 7 interesting facts about Chichén Itzá In Mexico
  • Chichén Itzá is one of the largest Mayan cities ever built. ...
  • Chichén Itzá takes its name from cenotes. ...
  • The Maya Peoples built Chichén Itzá ...
  • Invaders built the Chichén Itzá pyramid. ...
  • On top of the pyramid is a feathered snake.


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The city, located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, was one of the most powerful Mayan centers from the 7th to 13th centuries. Chichen Itza's mystery stems from its unique architecture, complex astronomical observations, and its sudden abandonment.

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The historic legends that trace the fall of the Itzá are a superficial manifestation of deeper problems, which likely included tense relations with subjugated peoples, excess economic and human tribute, overpopulation, scarcities of land and agricultural resources, and possible climatological changes resulting in ...

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Via its port at Isla Cerritos on the northern coast, Chichen Itza became an important commercial center, trading in goods—including gold and other treasures—with other cities throughout the Americas. At its height, it is believed that as many as 50,000 people lived in the city.

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13 Facts About Chichen Itza, One Of The 7 Wonders Of The World
  • 6 There Are Smaller Pyramids Within.
  • 7 It Isn't Entirely Mayan. ...
  • 8 It May Have Been Used For Sacrifices. ...
  • 9 It Is Being Restored. ...
  • 10 It Was Built Near Sinkholes. ...
  • 11 It's Built With Diverse Materials. ...
  • 12 It Was Used As An Observatory. ...
  • 13 It Was Discovered Twice. ...


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After descending the pyramid steps, she was met by an angry crowd who yelled “jail jail jail” and “idiot,” though the woman seemed relatively unphased. Villalobos was then escorted from the site and taken to the nearby community of Tinum, where she received a fine of 5,000 pesos, roughly $250.

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Great Ball Court. Archeologists have identified in Chichen Itza thirteen ballcourts for playing the Mesoamerican ballgame, but the Great Ball Court about 150 meters (490 ft) to the north-west of the Castillo is the most impressive. It is the largest and best preserved ball court in ancient Mesoamerica.

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The main Mayan Ruin is the Chichen Itza Pyramid or El Castillo, but there are other equaly important as El Caracol or Observatory, The Temple of The Warriors and the Mayan Ball Game.

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The Maya name: Chichen Itza means at the edge of the Itza's well. This derives from chi', meaning mouth or edge, and ch'e'en, meaning well. Itza is the name of an ethnic-lineage group that dominated the northern peninsula of Yucatan, Mexico prior to the Spanish Conquest.

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Chichen Itza is one of the “New 7 Wonders of the World” due to its large concentration of culturally-significant, ancient manmade wonders and its placing in the top 7 of all nominees during international voting. In 2000, the New7Wonders campaign set out to choose the New 7 Wonders of the World.

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One of the most interesting recent discoveries about Chichen is related to an essential aspect of Mayan life: water! In Chichen Itza, the cenotes are the only source of fresh water. These underground rivers are pure crystal water, a product of filtration through the limestone subsoil.

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The Pyramid of El Castillo in Chichén Itzá was built to reflect the Mayan astronomical year. Each side has 91 steps with a final step at the top, so there are 365 steps total. The Pyramid was constructed so that it marks the equinoxes—the two days of the year when there are equal amounts of day and night.

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