05The story
Stone cities across two thousand years
Capitals of the Zapotecs, the Maya and Teotihuacan, then Tenochtitlan on its lake and the colonial city built over it: milestones in Mexico's architecture and heritage.
around 500 BC
Monte Albán founded on a ridge above the Valley of Oaxaca; it became the Zapotec capital.
around 100 BC
Teotihuacan established; its Pyramid of the Sun was complete by AD 100.
around 600 – 1200
Chichén Itzá is the focal point of northern Yucatán.
615 – 683
Reign of King Pakal at Palenque, when most of its palaces and temples were built.
around 1325
Tenochtitlan built on islands in Lake Texcoco.
1524
The municipality of Mexico City established over Tenochtitlan and rebuilt to Spanish plans.
1573 – 1813
Construction of the Metropolitan Cathedral on the Zócalo.
1934
The Palace of Fine Arts opens, three decades after work began.
1987
Central Mexico City and Xochimilco, Teotihuacan, Oaxaca and Monte Albán, Palenque and Sian Ka'an join the World Heritage list.
1988
Chichén Itzá and Guanajuato with its mines join the World Heritage list.
2010
Traditional Mexican cuisine joins the list of intangible cultural heritage.