Mexico City’s Aztec Origins: A Walking Tour of its Emerging Archaeology

Mexico City might have been built directly over the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, but traces of this great civilisation can still be found if you know where to look. On this walking tour, I’ll not only guide you in the right direction. I’ll also reveal the ways in which the buried city still impacts the modern one.

This tour starts in front of the Monument to the Mexican National Identity. From there, you’ll head into the city center where you can visit iconic sites like the ruins of Tenochtitlan’s Templo Mayor (the main temple). I’ll tell you about the most recent Aztec archaeological discoveries like the Tzompantli (the macabre skull rack) located behind Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral.

As you stroll through Zócalo, the city’s beautiful main square, and iconic 5 de Mayo street, you’ll gain a better understanding of Mexico City’s transformation. I’ll tell you about everything from the astonishing Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, to the Spanish Conquest, and the modern capital it is today. Along the way, you’ll see impressive archeological findings, some still in the process of being fully unearthed. And even better: you don’t need to pay entrance tickets or any fees, as most of these relics are in the open.

On this Mexico City tour, you’ll have a chance to:

• Appreciate Mexico City’s unique geography on what used to be an extensive lake system
• Learn about the origins of the Aztec Empire and its capital city, Tenochtitlan
• Admire Templo Mayor and understand how vestiges of Tenochtitlan remain under downtown Mexico City
• Understand the complex events around the Spanish invasion and the defeat of the Aztecs
• Visit the Calmecac at Centro Cultural de España, the Aztec school for noble children where an ancient builder left his footprint
• Be surprised by the ancient remains in unexpected places like the ball game court, the Tzacualli Ehécatl (the temple of Ehécatl) and the beautiful Cabeza de Serpiente Mexica (serpent head) at Museo de la Ciudad (the city museum)
• Find out about the birth of Mexico as a new nation blending local and European traditions

By the end of this 1.5-2 hour tour, you’ll have a sense of how the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan is still alive, emerging from the underground, and transforming the history of Mexico with every new discovery.