The objects are presented in successive themes enabling visitors to discover this ancient city and to understand the way it functioned and the role and influence it held in the Mesoamerican world.

This unique exhibition presents items, most of which have never before been displayed in Europe. Some were unknown in Mexico until they were on show in Monterrey between September 2008 and January 2009. 95% of the objects come from Mexican collections and 5% from European collections (collections from German ethnographic museums and from the musée du quai Branly in Paris).

 
This exhibition was conceived by the Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes and the Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, Mexico, with the support of the Fundacion Televisa A.C.

It is co-produced by the musée du quai Branly, Paris, the Rietberg museum, Zürich and the Martin Gropius Bau, Berlin.