Mitla

travel wonder in Mexico

Why Mitla
is special

Mitla (meet'-lah) is famous for the arresting 3-D geometric designs on its building walls.

Tips & insights

on Mitla in Mexico

The design of each frieze panel is different from its neighbor's (see photo). This makes the overall collection exceedingly eye-catching.

The Mitla ruins we see today date back to 200 AD and were constructed by the Zapotec civilization (though their successors, the Mixtecs, added some touches).

There are five major groups of ruins. Three are essentially rubble. Of the two remaining, the Columns Group is the best preserved and the most visually interesting. The House of Pezelao is its star attraction and my personal favorite.

That building has several must-see features including its exterior friezes, the Hall of Columns, and the friezes lining the walls of inside spaces.

Mitla is renowned for its Column of Life. According to myth, you will learn how many years you have left by the distance your hands can reach around this large monolith.

The site also has a colonial church that the Spanish built over an ancient temple.

Ancient Mitla was a major religious center. Sometimes the high priest was more powerful than the king.

The archaeological site is engulfed by a town of the same name. Homes closely border the archaeological site.

Most visitors reach Mitla from the major city of Oaxaca, one-hour by car away. On the road you pass the very broad Tule Tree. It's reputed to be 2,000 to 3,000 years old. If so, it's older than the Mitla ruins.

  

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My phrase guide

for travelers

What every visitor should know.

My Mexican

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I hope your Mexico travel dreams come true - and that my

Mitla page helps you enjoy your vacation, tour or trip

©2008 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications