Xochicalco

Xochicalco, meaning 'House of Flowers' in Nahuatl, is a fortified hilltop city in Morelos, Mexico, founded around 650 AD after Teotihuacan's collapse. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, it blends Maya, Zapotec, and Teotihuacan influences. The Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent features reliefs of plumed serpents and figures in elaborate headdresses. The site includes two ballcourts, sweat-baths, residential plazas, and a cave with carved steps serving as an astronomical observatory. It functioned as a major trading hub during the Epiclassic period (650-900 AD).