In pre-Hispanic times, this spot was home to the spectacular Cincalco cavern (“cave of the place of maize”), which was believed to lead to Mictlán — considered by the Mexica as a portal between the world of the living and the dead. They also believed that Tláloc, the rain god, lived on this hill. According to Indigenous sources, Huémac, the last Toltec ruler, took his own life in the cave in 1162 after witnessing the decline and ruin of the Toltec people. The place is considered an element that “protects and fills visitors with energy.”

Around the Audiorama, visitors can see the old steps used by Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlota to descend from the Castle. Today, the cavern remains sealed for safety reasons.

The construction of the Audiorama dates back to 1972, and it was adapted to become a “refuge for lovers of reading.” Chronicler Salvador Novo named it in Náhuatl In xochitl, in cuicatl (“In the flower, the song”). Upon entering, one can sense the fresh scent of damp earth, and from its comfortable benches, a natural landscape can be admired. The main attraction of the Audiorama is its ambient music, specially curated each day: Tuesdays feature new age; Wednesdays, traditional Mexican rhythms; Thursdays, melodies from Spain, Greece, or Brazil; Fridays, jazz; Saturdays, chill-out; and Sundays, classical music. In its gardens, visitors can observe wild plants, fruit trees, small rose bushes, and calla lilies. Visitors may request a free book loan to enjoy reading on site.