On the road to Campeche, 58 miles south of Merida, is Uxmal.While it issmaller than Chichen-Itza, its  architecture is considered to be among the most magnificent in the ancient  world. Founded around 600 A.D., Uxmal, which means "Three Times Built," was developed in stages, with beautifully carved facades, corbelled arches and majestic terraces and columns facing broad plazas.

Dominating the site is the 100 foot-tall Pyramid of the Magician, a series of five superimposed temples. A steep 118-step climb to the top rewards you with a panoramic view of the half-square-mile city.

In front is the Nuns' Quadrangle, a vast plaza flanked on four sides by large structures with numerous doors and rooms. Take  note of the beautiful stonework above the doorways. The Nunnery entrance is  through a lovely corbelled arch leading from the Ball Court.

"The most spectacular single building in all pre-Columbian America," is what noted early archaeologist Sylanus G. Morley said of the Governor's Palace, a long, rectangular building on a series of three  terraces encompassing a five-acre area. Its facade is composed of more than  20,000 intricately-carved stones, giving the appearance of delicate latticework.  The plaza in front was once used for religious and civic activities.

Also here are the House of Turtles, a simple building  with a row of carved turtles around the cornice base; the Great Pyramid, sporting  a rebuilt front and otherwise covered with vegetation; the Temple of the Phalli,  dedicated to a phallic cult; and theDovecote.