Mitlá

Before the Spaniards arrived, the Zapotec people had a highly civilised culture in the south of Mexico. Mitlá was an important city to the Zapotec people, who were some of the original inhabitants of the state of Oaxaca in Mexico. It's on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In the time of the Zapotec people the city was named Lyobaa. But around 100 AC, the Mixtec people took over the city and renamed it Mictlán: place of the the dead. Archaeologists believe the city was designed by Aztec people in 1694. When the Spaniards arrived in the sixteenth century, Mitlá was a thriving city with temples and palaces.

The ruins are the silent witnesses to the city’s rich history. One of the interesting remains in Mitlá is the ‘Pillar of Death’, people embrace the pillar to find out how long they will live. You can find the ruins of Mitlá near the town of San Paolo de Mitla.

You will find the ruins of Mitlá near the town of San Pablo Villa de Mitla. And so near the city of Oaxaca, from where you can easily book excursions to the ruins. You can also go here yourself if you have a rental car.