Cerro del Tenayo

The Cerro del Tenayo is the southernmost peak on the western flank of the Sierra de Guadalupe. As such, it’s geographically in Tlalnepantla de Baz, Mexico State. Note the correlation with the name of Tenayuca, directly southwest of the peak. (The photo above is taken from the site of the Tenaycua ruins.)  Both names refer in Nahuatl to the walls of the ancient fortified city. Tenamitl: barrier, wall or city rampart, and -yucan, full of or abundant with.

The ancient hill has risen above human encroachment for millennia. And while some smaller settlements have been excavated, the mountain is mostly noted historically for the extraction of andesite stone. The Mexica people used the stone for works of art and for everyday objects. And remnants of these extraction areas been found at several sites around the mountain.

The mountain has a long history of Holy Week commemorations with participation from most of the surrounding parishes. In particular the El Carmen Church often leads processions, but the slopes of the surrounding neighborhoods are home to a number of important, historical and colonial-era churches.

Most visitors to the ecological reserve will visit the Guadalupe Shrine on the southeastern slopes. This provides excellent views and is reachable from the Solidaridad Nacional neighborhood, still in Mexico City. You just need to cross a few streets in the San Lucas Patoni neighorhood in Tlalnepanta.