Cathedral de Cuernavaca

Cathedral of Cuernavaca is located downtown about 5 blocks west of the plaza

This building served originally as the church for a Franciscan monastery founded in 1526; it became the cathedral for Cuernavaca in 1891. The fifth mission to begin construction on the continent, La Anunciación de Nuestra Señora employed pre-Conquest building techniques such thick rubble walls reinforced by cut stone at corners, windows, and doorways. The complex was largely complete by 1574. There is little documentation on the original construction, but scholars believe that the open chapel preceded the building of the church.

An amazing architectural complex formed by an atrium surrounded by tall 'battlemented' walls. The Cathedral has been remodeled in the last 20 years and murals depicting the martyrdom of St. Felipe de Jesus were found all along both sides of the walls. In the same complex are found the Chapel of San Jose, the Chapel of Nuestra Senora de los Dolores, the Chapel of Carmen as well as the Temple of Terce Orden. It is also famous for its Sunday "Mariachi Mass".

Teopanzolco

Teopanzolco is located in the city of Cuernavaca, just northeast of the railroad station. The site is an official archaeological zone maintained by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia. There is a modest admission fee Tuesday-Saturday; admission is free Sundays and the zone is closed Mondays.

The present archaeological zone consists of a public plaza surrounded by various structures, including a large pyramid, numerous low platforms, and other structures. The architecture dates to the Early Aztec period (as determined by the ceramics). The pyramid is one of the few surviving examples of the Aztec twin-stair pyramid style popular in the Early Aztec period, AD 1100-1350 (the Mexica Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan, located in modern Mexico City, was a Late Aztec structure built in the earlier style). Across the plaza from the pyramid is a row of low stone platforms that were bases for altars. Excavations in one of these turned up a mass sacrificial burial consisting of skulls from decapitated individuals and offerings of pottery vessels and other items. There are several partially-excavated buildings in the zone whose functions are uncertain.

Teopanzolco was an Early Aztec site that was apparently abandoned during the Late Aztec period (AD 1350-1521).