This great capital was one of the largest and most important cities of the Maya era. Its name means "the wells of Itzá" referring to the two large cenotes at the site. This cenotes allowed the city to grow and prosper since they where a very important source of water during the dry seasons. There's also sufficient archaeological evidence to suggest that Chichén Itzá was also a vital northern trade center.

One of the most important buildings of the site, called the "Castillo", is located on the northern part of Chichén. It's a flat temple, placed on a very high large platform with four stairways. It also has four doorways, but the northern doorway is wider than the others. The Castillo has a total of 365 steps, symbolizing the 365-day journey of the Earth around the Sun.

Northwest of the Castillo is the Great Ball Court, the largest in Mesoamerica, measuring 545 by 225 feet, with a playing alley 440 by 110 feet. Two parallel walls define the playing alley, each with a single stone ring. The purpose of the game was to get a rubber ball to pass trough one of the rings using only the hip, elbows, shoulders, and feet. When an important game took place it was customary to sacrifice the captain of the loosing team.

Another very intriguing building at the site is the one called "Caracol". This round building constructed over two large platforms, has a round stairway leading two a small room with square-shaped holes in the sealing. This means that the building was most probably an observatory the Mayas used to aid them in their advanced astronomical calculations.

The two large cenotes were essential to Chichén's power and prosperity. The city drew its drinking water from the centrally located Xtoloc Cenote. The other one was sacred, and was used to give offering to the gods. Many remains have been retrieved from the cenote, like gold plates, masks collar, jade ornaments and also some human bones and skulls that support the theory that many sacrifices were done in this cenote.

Chichén Itzá was no doubt, one of the most important cities of the area. Many religious pilgrimages were made from all over Maya land to make offerings to its sacred cenote. Evidence found at the site also suggests that Chichén was also of vital importance to the Maya's commerce trades.

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Chichén-Itzá|Tikal|Palenque |Uxmal