Secret Places in Teotihuacán
Much more than the pyramids
One of the most popular excursions when visiting Mexico City, is to visit the archaeological site of Teotihuacan, declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987, in my opinion a must to visit.
Located 1 hour from Mexico City, Teotihuacan is part of the national identity, a site with historical monuments not only impressive to see, such as the pyramids of the Moon, the Sun and Quetzalcoatl, also of vital importance to investigate from various perspectives, although the most popular group tour is to visit the pyramids, then visit a rock carving workshop and then a buffet restaurant, there is much more beyond what one could observe with the naked eye.
There are secret places that are open to the public, they are even enabled to receive tourism, however the commercialization of the tourist product leaves these places out of the route, however I find them essential to know the cultural legacy of Teotihuacan and how it has impacted not only the Aztecs (Mexicas) but to our present.
Mural of Tlaloc
Vessel of Tlaloc
The first of them is a museum that I think is fantastic, is the Museum of Teotihuacan Murals Beatriz de la Fuente, located very close to the Pyramid of the Moon and opened in 2001, houses a collection of original mural painting of Teotihuacan, although since 2018 those in charge of the museum have been removing murals to send it a place where they are better displayed or at least I want to believe so, the collection is of vital importance to know the history, art and daily life of the inhabitants of the city of Teotihuacan, this museum is my introduction when I do my tour in Teotihuacan, it serves me to give the space-time and cosmology of Mesoamerica through the symbols in the murals, a very important museum to understand the history.
Museum Beatriz de la Fuente observatoryBeatriz de la Fuente Museum
Just a few of the Teotihuacan murals at the museum.
Another place I recommend is the palace of Tetitla, a housing complex outside the Teotihuacan nucleus where you can appreciate the mural paintings in situ, in addition to the architecture, we can also get an idea of how the intimate spaces were shared in wealthy families, the most important mural is called Jade Goddesses or Green Tlaloc, is in the inner courtyard of the housing complex and really worth seeing, I also include it in my tour, to see these places I sacrifice time to buy souvenirs, even though it is true that it helps economically to the community, it is not necessary to go to a workshop or a specific store to buy them, in the site there are many stores that are dedicated to the sale of souvenirs of good quality and if you want a place with more variety of souvenirs or rather a place where they sell Mexican folk art I always recommend La Ciudadela, which is located in the Historic Center of Mexico City, so in this way I focus much more on ancient art and visits to these secret places.
Tetila a housing complex out side of Teotihuacan site.
Black Eagle.
Green Tlaloc.
On this map you can locate these two places
There are many more places of great interest, but if another day of visit is needed, when a client request more secret places its because they are historians or archaeologists who are doing scientific research and ask me for assistance in their work, I have colleagues who work in the INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History) they can provide help with the necessary requirements of the universities, access to restricted areas, of course with the proper permission of the institution.
These places can also be visited on your own, you just have to research about the murals, I recommend the books of Beatriz de la Fuente, which are in pdf and free online and a book in English that I think is the best Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire, this is on Amazon.
