Zunil

Zunil on the map of Guatemala

Zunil is an approximately 12,500 inhabitants town in the department of Quetzaltenango, in western Guatemala. The place is inhabited predominantly by members of the Quiché - tribal group; The main languages ​​are Quiché ( 82%) and Hispanic ( 18%).

Location

Zunil is located about 10 km southeast of Quetzaltenango at an altitude of about 2,000 m above sea level.. inst The town itself is on a slope; flows in the valley of the river Salamá and is used to irrigate the fields located on its banks. In the wider area of the town there are 3 volcanoes: Santo Tomas, Santa María and Santiaguito. In the near and around Zunil there are several thermal baths, which are fed by underground hot springs.

History

Whether the place already existed in pre-Columbian times, is unclear; yet no ruins or other artifacts were found in any case. In colonial times, several mines were driven into the mountains to reduce sulfur, iron ore and mercury. The place thus attaining a certain level of prosperity, which is also reflected in the relatively large and provided with one of the most beautiful facades Guatemalan church.

On 12 October 2011 directed - to serious damage to homes, businesses, cars and fields mudslides around Zunil and demanded many lives - triggered by days of heavy rains.

Attractions

• The weißgetünschte and for the stabilization of two lateral towers framed facade of the church of Santa Catalina is designed rich and shows four two-storey twisted pairs of columns, which are also known as ' Solomonic columns ' - these are more often found in Spanish colonial baroque Central and South America; here they are additionally coated with more tendrils. In between, there are niches with statues of saints, which are regarded as members of the Franciscan Order; Francis of Assisi itself is far left of the bottom row - on his head sits a bird. In the upper level of the church patron is seen. The lateral towers are against it - as in the colonial Baroque usual - in its lower part, completely unadorned; only to the broken windows tip shows - as well as in the middle section - an abstract vegetabilisches arabesque. The church facade closes with a three-dimensional framed by baroque volutes bell gable. The single elongated interior ends in a region covered by a dome choir.
• A visit to the local saint Maximón should not be missed under any circumstances, even if tourists are invited for admission and photos to the checkout.

Others

An impact crater on Mars is named after the place Zunil; he is possibly the origin of some Martian meteorites.