Calixtlahuaca

The MEX 55 leaves Toluca in a northerly direction and after 8km/5mi a road branches off to the left and leads to the ruined site of Calixtlahuaca (Náhuatl: "place with houses on the plain") 2.5km/1.6mi away. The early history of this religious site is largely unclear. Remains of buildings which have been discovered can be traced back to the Teotihuacán civilisation and in the post-Classic period to Xochicalco and the Toltecs. They were followed by the Matlatzinca, who ruled here until they were subdued by invaders from the valley of Anáhuac. The Aztecs occupied the town for the first time in 1474 and exerted a significant influence on the later building activity which took place there. A number of unsuccessful uprisings by the Matlatzinca against the Aztecs ended in the destruction of the Matlatzinca temple.