The Palacio Quemado, or Burned Palace, lies on the western side of the pyramid. It was destroyed by, that’s right, fire, towards the end of the city’s heyday. Despite it’s name, it probably wasn’t actually used as a palace in a residential sense. The three rooms are more likely to have been used for meetings by Toltec civil servants. The south and north sides of the middle room are surrounded by benches, decorated with carvings of processions of important personages, similar to those in the Frieze of the Caciques. The perfectly preserved Chac-mool (sitting statues of gods for which Chichen Itza is also famous) in the site museum, seashell and turquoise offerings, as well as a storeroom of pottery were also found here.

Location:
The Archaeological Site, Tula De Allende, Mexico

Ruin

Relative price: Budget

Travel Skills: None

By Lisa Rodan

Created: 28 Apr 2009

Updated: 30 Apr 2009