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> Homepage > Welcome > Destinations > Riviera Maya > Tulum >   The ceremonial center
 Probably once used for rituals or ceremonies, the plaza at the center of the city is flanked by the so-called Castillo to the west. The Castillo, sometimes referred to as the lighthouse, is the tallest building at Tulum and the most famous. It stands on that above-mentioned bluff, commanding a view of the ocean and coast for miles in both directions. The structure underwent several stages of building and the lintels of its upper rooms are carved with the plumed serpent motif. The rooms themselves are vaulted in classic Mayan style.
The Temple of the Descending God is another interesting structure. On the façade is a figure sculpted head down, and the walls inside show traces of the original pigments applied by the Maya. The descending figure is thought to represent a deity and Tulum appears to have been the center of his cult. The Temple of the Initial Series façade bears several stucco figures and the earliest date found at Tulum came from a stela in the inner sanctum.
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© 2004 Editorial Veras. La guía Oficial del Caribe Mexicano.