Museo del Templo Mayor
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/miguelalvarez/4095977415/ — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Museo del Templo Mayor exhibits over 3,000 artifacts from the Templo Mayor archaeological site, offering insights into Aztec civilization.
Planning your visit
In 1978 electricity workers digging beside Mexico City's cathedral struck a carved stone disc eight tonnes in weight showing the dismembered goddess Coyolxauhqui. It marked the base of the Templo Mayor — the principal temple of Tenochtitlan, which the Spanish demolished in 1521 and built their capital over. Blocks of colonial buildings were cleared to excavate it.
The site is walked on raised walkways above the exposed foundations, showing seven successive rebuildings, one enclosing the next, with painted shrines and stone serpents surviving at the lower levels.
The museum holds over 3,000 objects recovered from offerings buried in the structure: masks, sacrificial knives, sea creatures brought from both coasts, and the Coyolxauhqui stone itself, displayed as it lay.
The Eagle Warrior sculpture and the recent Tlaltecuhtli monolith are highlights.
It is on the Zócalo. Allow two hours. Bookable options include guided tours. Current availability is shown below.
Before you book
Where is Museo del Templo Mayor?
Museo del Templo Mayor is in Mexico City, Mexico. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for Museo del Templo Mayor?
Allow two hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book Museo del Templo Mayor in advance?
Guided tours run to a fixed schedule and small group sizes, so they are usually booked ahead.
