Teotihuacan

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Founded around 200 BC, Teotihuacan rapidly grew into the largest and most influential city in Mesoamerica. At its peak, it was home to over 100,000 people (with some estimates as high as 250,000), thousands of buildings, and had conquered multiple Mayan city-states. And then, it collapsed in the 7th or 8th century, and had been long-abandoned when the Aztecs found it in the 13th century. Today, Teotihuacan is one of the most impressive and enigmatic archaeological sites in the world, with the 65-meter-tall Pyramid of the Sun (the 3rd largest in the world), 43-meter-tall Pyramid of the Moon, and a number of smaller temples lining the Avenue of the Dead at the heart of the city. Between the two main pyramids, you’ll find the Palace Museum of Quetzalpapálotl—a 6th-century complex with intricate carvings and murals.