Malta - The Narrow Streets of Valletta
Foto: Palenque (bron: Andrea Marangoni)
Mexico - Palenque is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization located near the Usumacinta River in the municipality of Palenque. In terms of size, the site is moderate compared to major sites like Tikal or Copán, but its findings are of great value. Some of the finest architecture, sculpture, and stucco reliefs can be found here. By 2005, about 2.5 km² of the city had been excavated, which is estimated to be less than 10% of the total area that Palenque once covered. The rest of the site, likely containing over a thousand more structures, remains hidden in the jungle. Palenque’s original name was Lakam Ha, meaning “Great Water,” in reference to the springs and streams that rise there. The city was long abandoned by the time the Spanish arrived. Father Pedro Lorenzo de la Nada was one of the first Europeans to visit and write about the site in 1567. At that time, the local Chol Maya called it Otolum, or "Land with Strong Houses." De la Nada loosely translated this into Spanish as Palenque, meaning "fortification." In the 17th century, a new village called Santo Domingo del Palenque was established among the ruins at the edge of the ancient city. It wasn’t until 1773 that serious attention was given to the Maya city, when Ramón de Ordoñez y Aguilar visited and reported on the site. This led to a second expedition that confirmed the ruins' importance. Two years later, explorer and architect Antonio Bernasconi arrived in Palenque with a small military force to document the site. The aggressive search conducted by the soldiers caused significant damage to many structures.
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