Monte Alban and Santa Maria Atzompa

Monte Alban served as the ancient capital of the Zapotecs between 500B.C. and 800 A.D. At its height, the city was inhabited by more than 40,000 residents. Today visitors can tour the site; points of interest on the Grand Plaza include temples, palaces, bas-reliefs of human figures known as the “danzantes”, a ball court, an observatory, and tombs that once held gold, silver, jade, alabaster and turquoise treasures (now housed at the Centro Cultural de Santo Domingo in Oaxaca City).

To the west of Monte Alban lies the town of Santa Maria Atzompa (pop. 5,000) known for the green-glazed pottery that many of its citizens produce. Students have a chance to view and/or purchase pottery at a local market.