Chapter 1
The largest monument ever built
Chapter 2
A sacred city of pilgrimage
Chapter 3
The day the Spanish arrived
Chapter 4
Exploring the secret tunnels
Ch 3 · The day the Spanish arrived
Glossary
conquistador (noun)
A conqueror, especially one of the Spanish leaders who colonized the Americas in the sixteenth century. In October 1519, the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés arrived in Cholula, mistaking the overgrown pyramid for a hill.
A conqueror, especially one of the Spanish leaders who colonized the Americas in the sixteenth century. In October 1519, the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés arrived in Cholula, mistaking the overgrown pyramid for a hill.
Fun Fact
Hidden history: The Spanish built their church on top of Cholula's pyramid because they genuinely thought it was a natural hill, completely missing the massive ancient temple buried underneath.
Quiz
Which Spanish conquistador led the sudden and brutal massacre of Cholula's citizens in October 1519?
Quiz
According to a famous colonial myth, how many churches did the Spanish claim to build in Cholula?
Quiz
Approximately how many Cholulans were killed in a single day during the Spanish massacre of 1519?
Quiz
Why does the Mexican government protect both the colonial church and the ancient Cholula pyramid today?
Quiz
What is the approximate number of historic churches actually standing in Cholula today?
Quiz
In which year was the construction of the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios completed?
Quiz
Why did the Spanish crown build Catholic churches directly on top of indigenous Mesoamerican temples?