During the 80s, eight Mexican sites were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. These cultural and natural sites bear testimony to Mexico's rich history and diversity.

With 27 sites, Mexico has more sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list than any other country in the Americas. During the 1980s, the following sites were added:

Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco (added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987)

The historic center of Mexico City is a mixture of architectural styles from the 16th century to the present. The city has five pre-Hispanic temple ruins while the 16th century Metropolitan Cathedral is the largest in the Americas. The streets of the center are lined by mostly 19th century palaces and some impressive early-20th-century structures. In Xochimilco, 30 km (19 miles) to the south, many of the canals and artificial islands vital to food supplies for the Aztec capital have been preserved.

Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán (added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987)

Oaxaca has a typical Spanish-colonial, grid-pattern layout with many solid buildings surviving from the colonial era. Monte Albán, inhabited for well over 1,500 years, produced some of the intellectually most advanced civilizations in the Americas.

Historic Centre of Puebla (added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987)

Puebla, founded in 1531, preserved its grid-pattern town plan, Baroque churches, and palaces. The interior of its huge cathedral is arguably the finest in Mexico. Some buildings show an interesting blend of European and local architecture and decorations.

Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque (added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987)

Palenque, beautifully located in lush rainforests, is a prime example of Mayan architecture during the classical period (500-700 AD). The buildings show high craftsmanship and are especially known for the artistic quality of the sculptured reliefs.

Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan (added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987)

The enormous archeological site of Teotihuacan is just 50 km (30 miles) north of Mexico City and thus hugely popular with day tours. Teotihuacan was one of the largest cities in the world and its influence on Mesoamerica from the 1st to 7th centuries was unrivaled. Teotihuacan’s huge monuments (pyramids and palaces) and the whole city were built in geometric patterns influenced by astronomy.

Sian Ka'an (added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987)

Sian Ka’an on the eastern shore of the Yucatan Peninsula is a large and unique biosphere reserve. Sian Ka’an literally means “Origin of the Sky”, which is appropriate as the reserve is home to over 300 species of birds.

Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines (added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988)

Guanajuato became the richest silver-mining town in the world during the 18th century. The wealth is clearly visible in the numerous Baroque and Neo Classical buildings. The most famous mine, Boca del Inferno (Mouth of Hell), has a shaft dropping 600 m (2,000 ft). Guanajuato is also famous for its subterranean streets and its role during the Mexican independence struggle.

Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza (added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988)

Chichen-Itza is one of the most impressive Mayan sites and a popular day tour from Cancún. Inhabited for almost a millennium as an important religious and cultural center, Chichen-Itza is particularly important for its huge and well-preserved monuments from the Mayan-Toltec civilizations.

Further sources on suite101.com:

• Mexican sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage list during the 1990s
• Mexican sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage list during the 21st century