Sololá

Solola on the map of Guatemala

Solola is a city in Guatemala and has about 20.000 inhabitants. It is the administrative center of the department of Solola and the greater community of the same name (Municipio ), which extends over an area of ​​approximately 94 km ² and has a population of about 60,000. Of them, about 90 percent Cakchiquel and Quiché. The city is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Solola, Chimaltenango.

Location and climate

The city is located about 140 kilometers west of Guatemala City in the central highlands of the Sierra Madre at 2,114 m altitude. You can reach Solola Guatemala City on the Interamerican Highway (CA 1) and at El Cuchillo (Los Encuentros ) branches off to the south National Highway 1 This road leads through Solola to Panajachel on Lake Atitlán ( 1,562 m). The climate is temperate in Solola.

Economy and Tourism

Solola has long been a trading center with a market that takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays. In contrast to Chichicastenango he has retained its original character largely, although Solola is exposed to an ever increasing tourist through traffic due to the proximity of Lake Atitlán. In addition to trade and tourism, agriculture and the production of clay bricks ( adobes ) plays a significant role.

In a former barracks is a branch of the Agricultural Faculty of the Universidad del Valle ( Guatemala City ).

History

The area of Solola was first mastered before the arrival of the Spaniards of Tzutuhiles. Then, quiches and Cakchiquels joined us, the first all together in the pre-Columbian village Tzolohá (or Tzoloyá, Tzolojha, depending on transcription; German " elder water") lived, but then parted. Are obtained in the vicinity of the settlement, of which only a few remains, the Spaniards founded in 1547 the place Asunción de Nuestra Señora de Atitlán Tecpán, who was also known as Tzololá or Asunción Solola. Until 1730 the city administrative center of the Corregimiento de Atitlán was Tecpán ( Solola ), then the Alcaldía Mayor de Solola. Even after the independence from Spain was the place administrative headquarters of districts of different shape and extension, 1872 then the existing departments today Solola.

Attractions

• The main attraction of Solola is the Indian market ( mercado ), which propagates along the narrow streets of the town; here mainly food and everyday necessities are still traded. Tourists are rarely seen. Many women still wear traditional clothing developed during the Spanish colonial period, consisting of a wrap skirt ( uq or corte ) and a colored embroidered or woven shirt ( po't or huipil ); the multi-layered pleated headdress ( tzut ), however, has already become rare. The men's clothing has become typical in the 20th century, consists of a shirt with an American check pattern, a knee - or ankle-length richly embroidered trousers and a winding around the hips Sash ( faja ); rarely carry the men nor their embroidered shirts.

• In the heart of the city, the geometrical designed Plaza Mayor is a central raised pavilion for the musicians who perform here on festivals.
• The local church is a single-, multi- restored building with a central dome and a large exterior windows.
• The Torre Centro Americana is a steeple -like, almost baroque -sounding building, which is part of the construction of the city and the department of administration and was not built until the early 20th century.
• The cemetery is located just outside the village. In its center an impressive central street of tombs runs with multi-storey family graves, whose architecture is reminiscent of Mayan temple pyramids or colonial time buildings.
• From the southern edge of the village itself offers an impressive panorama of Lake Atitlán.