Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán World Heritage Site

Official name

Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán | UNESCO

Country

Mexico | Map

Continent

North America

Location

Etat de Oaxaca de Juarez, municipalites de Oaxaca, Xoxocotlan et Cuilapan
17.6190° Lat, -96.7216° Lon | Map

Code

415

Time Zone

America/Mexico_City (CST, -0600)

Current Time

Category

Cultural

Description

Inscribed 1987. Inhabited over a period of 1,500 years by a succession of peoples – Olmecs, Zapotecs and Mixtecs – the terraces, dams, canals, pyramids and artificial mounds of Monte Albán were literally carved out of the mountain and are the symbols of a sacred topography. The nearby city of Oaxaca, which is built on a grid pattern, is a good example of Spanish colonial town planning. The solidity and volume of the city's buildings show that they were adapted to the earthquake-prone region in which these architectural gems were constructed.