Edzna A Day Trip Out Of Ticul

Edzna "House of the Itza", is in the state of Campeche. Edzna is easy to get to, but there is not much else in the area to do or see, so combining this site with a visit to the capital city of Campeche. Edzna is just off Highway 261, about 35 miles southeast of Campeche. Edzna was first occupied around 600 BC, but did not develop into a major city until 200 AD with the monumental construction beginning prior to 300 BC. Edzna was abandoned by 1500 AD. Edzna may have been the seat of the Itza prior their moving to Chichen Itza. Edzna is not a large site, the Great Plaza is outstanding and should not be missed. Edzna can be seen in an hour.

The Great Plaza (518' x 324') of Edzna is spectacular with many reconstructed buildings surrounding it. Some of these structures are The Great Acropolis (22 feet tall and 486 feet square) is on the East side of the Great Plaza. Approached by a wide monumental stairway flanked by the Northwest and Southwest Temples, the structures on the Great Acropolis are dwarfed by the Five-Level Pyramid. This building is unique to Edzna. It was built in five different stages and began as an early classic pyramid. There is an inscriptions on the bottom level with the date of 652 AD. Adjoining the Five level Pyramid is the House of the Moon, an 26 feet tall platform mound.

To the south is the small Acropolis (295' by 246') contains the Temple of the Stelae and the Temple of the Old Woman. A structure associated with the small Acropolis it known as the Temple of the Stone Masks. It has two giant stucco faces representing the god Kinich Ahau, the right mask he is an old man and the left mask he is a young man.

West of the Great Plaza and approached by a sacbe is the Nohol Na, a 389 feet long palace structure with an un-restored facade, and the Platform of the Knives, with an elite residence and possible ballcourt.

There are numerous outlying residential mound groups at Edzná. For the most part they are un-excavated and uncleared. These residential areas represent an important earlier component dating from the Late Pre-Classic.

Edzná has a longer history than most other Mayan sites. This long history is due to Edzna developing over two phases. The small agricultural village settled prior to 400 BC grew during the next five hundred years into an dominate urban center. A factor to Edzna long steady growth was the construction of a sophisticated system of reservoirs and canals to store rainwater. Edzna many have been politically linked with powerful city state of the Petén.

On my last visit the entry fee was about $2. Hours are 8:00AM-5:00PM