Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 28 Mar 2023
A new museum is being developed for one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations; Chichén Itzá on the Yucátan peninsula.
Few details are known about the project, which is currently in its planning stages, however, it is set to replace a previous museum that closed more than a decade ago and is likely to showcase archaeological discoveries from the local area.
Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has allocated US$14.4m (€13.3m, £11.7m) for site improvements, which, according to The Art Newspaper will include the museum, as well as a visitor centre and conservation works.
It will also see the opening of Chichén Viejo, an ancient housing complex that has previously been closed off to the public.
The project is anticipated to take two years to complete to minimise potential risk to any undiscovered artefacts or structures.
“It is possible that some of the objects on display in the Maya Museum in Cancún might be loaned or moved to Chichén,” Carlos Esperón, director of the Maya Museum, told The Art Newspaper.
“We have some superb reproductions of the Pagautunes, mythical characters who were very important in Maya cosmology – the Maya believed they held up the sky – which you can see in some of the temples Chichén. It is possible they may go to the new museum.”
Multi-million-dollar museum planned for Chichén Itzá | Planet Attractions
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Multi-million-dollar museum planned for Chichén Itzá
A US$14m museum is being developed for Chichén Itzá, one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 28 Mar 2023
A new museum is being developed for one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations; Chichén Itzá on the Yucátan peninsula.
Few details are known about the project, which is currently in its planning stages, however, it is set to replace a previous museum that closed more than a decade ago and is likely to showcase archaeological discoveries from the local area.
Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has allocated US$14.4m (€13.3m, £11.7m) for site improvements, which, according to The Art Newspaper will include the museum, as well as a visitor centre and conservation works.
It will also see the opening of Chichén Viejo, an ancient housing complex that has previously been closed off to the public.
The project is anticipated to take two years to complete to minimise potential risk to any undiscovered artefacts or structures.
“It is possible that some of the objects on display in the Maya Museum in Cancún might be loaned or moved to Chichén,” Carlos Esperón, director of the Maya Museum, told The Art Newspaper.
“We have some superb reproductions of the Pagautunes, mythical characters who were very important in Maya cosmology – the Maya believed they held up the sky – which you can see in some of the temples Chichén. It is possible they may go to the new museum.”
