Cerro del Judío

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Cerro del Judío, also called Cerro de las Tres Cruces or Mazatepetl (Cerro de los Venados), is a hill in the Magdalena Contreras area of Mexico City. It rises to 2,750 meters above sea level. At the top sits an Otomí archaeological site with a pyramid dating to around 1200 AD, built with a staircase that features a turtle carved with jaguar claws. The site also includes a ceremonial center with artifacts from 1200–1380 AD. In 2000, archaeologist Francisco Rivas led the INAH restoration, and the area became part of Lomas de Padierna National Park. The builders are thought to have been Tepanecs. The oldest name for the hill is Mazatepetl, meaning “Cerro de los Venados.” Every Holy Week, locals hold Christian celebrations at the summit, where three crosses mark the peak; Saint Barnabas is the patron of the community. The Cerro de Mazatepetl area covers about 383.49 hectares and is a protected Natural Area.