El Castillo - Chichen Itza Poster

This monumental, perfectly proportioned pyramid, one of the subsequent restorational triumphs of Mexico, originally had a staircase on each side, although now only two are climbable. At the top, from which a fine view of the whole of Chichén Itzá can be obtained, is a large, square temple with outer and inner chambers decorated with warrior figures. The two entrance columns on the main north face are carved as serpents. At the spring and autumnal equinoxes, is the famous effect when a shadow cast as a snake moves down one of the staircases for which many people travel especially to witness. The verdict of the archaeologists is that this is a trick resulting from the building's restoration and is no mystical phenomenon.