Monte Albán Travel Guide

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  The Palace is a two-part structure with a central staircase, with alfardos ending in the form of talud. In the upper part are 13 rooms grouped around a central patio. The doorway of this grouping is a dintel, recently arranged.You can watch my photo of Monte-Alban on the... 

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  Also on the east side of the plaza are several altars and pyramids that were once covered with stucco. The sloping walls, wide stairs, and ramps are all typical of Zapotec architecture and reminiscent of the architecture of Teotihuacán. You can watch my photo of Monte-Alban... 

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  The North Platform is a large maze of temples and palaces interwoven with underground tunnels and sanctuaries. There are numerous reliefs, glyphs, paintings, and friezes along the lintels, jambs and walls to explore. In this section of the ruins, you are likely to see... 

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  Los Danzantes (Building of the Dancers) is the main highlight of the west side of the plaza. It is the earliest surviving structure at Monte Albán. This building is covered with large stone slabs with carvings of humans in strange, tortured positions (these are copies; the... 

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  The west side has more ceremonial platforms and pyramids. One of the pyramid complexes, named System IV, is almost identical to Mound M, which is on the west side near the South Platform. Both are well-preserved and were once topped with one-room wooden temples. You can... 

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  On the south side of the plaza is the South Platform, which once had several carved stelae. Most of these are now in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, but at the northeast and northwest corners are staelae showing prisoners of war with their arms and legs... 

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  On the eastern side of the Great Plaza is an I-shaped ball court (Juego de Pelota). This ball court differs slightly from Maya and Toltec ball courts in that there are no goal rings and the sides of the court slope.The ball game played on this court had ritual significance,... 

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  To the south of these center buildings is the Observatory, which was either used as its name indicates or to celebrate victory in battle. Glyphs carved on the walls may be of the names of conquered tribes. The only building at Monte Albán not aligned with the north-south... 

 Enzyme_X Says:  To get to the site caths the tourist bus that runs from Hotel Rivera del Angel at Mina street 518 in Oaxaca (3 blocks south and 4 blocks west from Zocalo). Return ticket costs 24 pesos and the ride takes less than 1/2 hour. But be aware that you have fix time of return -... 

 MD2nd Says:  One of the joys of Mexico is the food. So eating Mexican is part of visiting or living there.But: Be careful. Please check out the link below. Wish I've had found such a link prior to my MX travel. Indeed got such a bad stomac and been sick for days felt like months. The... 

 mtncorg Says:  If you have come all the way to Monte Alban, then first go to the Centro Cultura Santo Domingo in Oaxaca to gain a better understanding of the arrangements on Monte Alban. Second, hire one of the official guides at the entrance to the site. But, be sure the guide is... 

 shdw100 Says:  When in Monte Alban, go exploring off the path. The great thing about visiting Mexican archeological sites is that almost anything goes! I mean, they do have ropes for places where they don't want you to go, but for the most part, you can wander anywhere you want to and not... 

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  Monte Albán is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site in the Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán Municipality in the state of Oaxaca.Besides being one of the earliest cities of Mesoamerica, Monte Albán's importance stems also from its role as the pre-eminent Zapotec socio-political and...