"El Castillo" is one of the main buildings in Tulum, a wonderful archaeological site located in the Riviera Maya, Mexico.
The Castle
El Castillo is the largest building among the ruins in Tulum and sitting almost on the edge of a cliff, it overlooks the Caribbean Sea like a frozen sentry. It was actually built in different periods with the two platforms, two galleries and a central access stairway being the oldest part which was later used as a base for the erection of the upper temple.
The structure has three entrances, two vaulted rooms and a lintel supported by two serpent-shaped columns. The most recent additions to the monument were two oratories, one at each side of the staircase.
This ancient castle by the sea was used primarily for religious rituals and may have been a lighthouse or beacon for Maya merchant ships navigating along the Yucatan seashore. Its imposing structure resembles from afar, a dominating tower, forever symbolizing the greatness of the people that built it.
The Temple of the Frescoes
The Temple is one of the monuments in Tulum thought to have had great social and religious importance: its architectural features, mural paintings, decoration, sculptures and general appearance point to a place of deep veneration. It was built in successive stages, the first one being a rather basic structure containing a single chamber with an altar, murals on the façade and the entrance decorated with a human figure head facing downward.
The second stage consisted of a gallery with entrances formed by several columns decorated with stucco figures. Later on, part of the gallery was filled in with stone to be used as a base for the upper Temple. A stone platform, stele number 2, carved with a human figure contains a sign indicating the year it was added but has unfortunately not been deciphered yet.
The Palace
This complex was without a doubt the largest residential building in Tulum: a three story structure 85 meters long by 35 meters wide. The monument has numerous small chambers and it was inhabited by the upper echelons (nobles, spiritual leaders) of Maya society.
The original structure was shaped like an L and it is only later that a west wing was added to respond to population growth demands. A narrow room in back is a shrine with small windows which still to this day have the rings that held curtains. The architectural style is consistent with Puuc design and the Palace is decorated with carvings and images honoring deities including The Descending God.
