Totonicapán

Totonicapán on the map of Guatemala

Totonicapán (also San Miguel Totonicapán ) is a 60,000 inhabitants town in Guatemala. It is the administrative center of the department Totonicapán and the greater community of the same name ( Municipio).

Location and climate

The city is located 204 km north-west of Guatemala City and about 30 km northeast of Quetzaltenango in the highlands of the Sierra Madre 2,495 m altitude. You can reach Totonicapán of Guatemala City on the Interamerican Highway (CA 1). Shortly before Quetzaltenango, at Cuatro Caminos, branches off to the east of the 12 km long road to the Totonicapán. The climate in the city and in the area is cold.

Economy and Tourism

Totonicapán is known for its arts and crafts and for his small textile companies.

In the valley between Cuatro Caminos and Totonicpán and in the vicinity of the city there are many hot springs. The only attractions in the city are the 1924 opened neoclassical theater, and in 1545 by Bishop Francisco Marroquín church dedicated to San Miguel Arcángel, which had to be rebuilt after earthquake several times, most recently in 1878. Western outskirts is the Tanque de Los Dragones, one of four dragon mouths fed fountain and washing area. Totonicapán is known for its many colorful festivals, including the dance festival in the spring, the independence celebration on September 14 and 15 and also the feast day of the patron saint Michael.

History

Totonicapán was before the arrival of the Spaniards under the name Chuimekenhá (Eng. "On the hot springs " ) is the second most important town of the Quiché after Utatlán. The by the Spaniards settled here Mexican mercenaries gave it the same name Totonicapán significant. During the colonial period silver was mined. The Quiché sought again and again against the Spanish colonizers. 1816, refused Totonicapáns Mayor Anastasio Tzul to transfer taxes to the Spanish crown. 1820 organized Anastasio Tzul an uprising by the colonial masters were first expelled from the city. Anastasio Tzul was crowned king of the Quiché, but his tenure lasted only 29 days: Spanish troops from Quetzaltenango arrested Tzul and his colleagues. The celebrations, which take place in Totonicapán today on the eve of the official Independence Day (15 September ), the Quiché - folk hero Anastasio Tzul, where you put a monument in the city are. After independence from Spain ( 1821) Totonicapán 1825 was capital of the department of the same name in October.