Sayil

Dominating the site is the partially restored Palace (Palacio), with its several storeys of terracing, which represents one of the most perfect of all architectural creations in the Mayas' Classical Puuc style. Every floor of the 80 3 40 m (260 3 130 ft) building is set back slightly from the one immediately below with the result that the roof of the lower storey is also part of the balcony of the upper storey. This means that the third storey of this gradually tapering building is the highest one and on the south side there is an enormous flight of steps leading up to it.The most interesting part of the building is the west section of the middle storey, which has two doors and four openings, each of which has a pair of stone pillars crowned by a square capital. In between these, there are linked columns, modelled on the wooden posts of the Maya huts, which contribute to the harmonious overall impression. In the centre of the frieze running along the top, there is an enormous mask of the rain-god Chac, which is flanked by ornamental glyphs. The frieze also contains tiny rounded columns in rows and, over the doors, the stylised motif of "the falling god" with open snakes' mouths turned away on either side.At the north-west corner of the palace there was once a large "chultún" or cistern.

Apart from the remains of the Ball Court (Juego de Pelota) and a small temple, the other thing to see at Sayil is the famous temple, now heavily weathered, known as the Mirador. At one time it was linked to the palace by a sacbé (ceremonial road). The temple rests on a platform and is notable for the crest of its roof, which was probably originally decorated with stucco ornaments, something quite unusual in the Puuc region as limestone was generally used here for mosaic work.A path some 100 m (330 ft) in length leads from this building to a large stela, something rather strange for the Mayas, which has a sculpted figure with an exaggerated phallus.