Panajachel

Panajachel on the map of Guatemala

Panajachel (full name San Francisco Panajachel ) is a town of about 11,000 inhabitants in the department of Solola in southwestern Guatemala.

Panajachel is located in the central highlands of Guatemala on Lake Atitlan on a good 1500 meters above sea level and is adjacent to Antigua Guatemala and Quetzaltenango one of the country's tourist centers today.

History

The city emerged from a pre-Columbian settlement of the Cakchiquel Maya. Importance was Panajachel a war zone: It came in 1523 to the last battle of the resident also at Lago de Atitlán Tzutuhil Maya against the Spanish conquistadors under Pedro de Alvarado and the already allied with these Cakchiquel Maya. The Spanish conquistadors built a church, founded a monastery and made Panajachel a center of Roman Catholic missionary work among the indigenous population. The facade of the church, built in 1567 is still preserved.

Its present meaning as an important trading center on the Lake Atitlan Panajachel owes tourism.

Museums

• Museo Lacustre del Lago Atitlan: The archaeological museum deals with findings of a sunken city from the Maya period between 1200 BC and 250 AD at the bottom of the lake.