Comayagua
Encyclopedia
Comayagua is a city in Honduras
, some 80 km northwest of Tegucigalpa
on the highway to San Pedro Sula
at an elevation of 594 meters above sea level. In 2003 the estimated population was 60,000 people. It is the capital of the Comayagua department of Honduras
. The city is noted for its wealth of Spanish Colonial architecture. The central square has a cathedral with the oldest clock in the Americas.
Alonso de Cáceres under orders from Francisco de Montejo
, Governor of Yucatán
on December 8, 1537. From 1540 on Comayagua was the capital of the Honduras Province of the Captaincy General of Guatemala
. In 1786 (23 December) the Spanish Crown created the Intendencia of Comayagua, with Comayagua as its capital which lasted until 1812. From 1812 to 1814 it was the capital of the Province of Comayagua when it again reverted to being the capital of the Intendencia of Comayagua until 1820. In 1820, Honduras was again called the Province of Comayagua or Honduras, with Comayagua as its capital. After independence from Spain
it was the capital of the state of Honduras in the United States of Central America. After Honduras became an independent republic, the capital alternated between Comayagua and Tegucigalpa
(Comayagua being preferred by Conservative administrations, and Tegucigalpa by Liberal ones) before being permanently established at Tegucigalpa in 1880.
In recent years Comayagua has become one of the most important tourist attractions in Honduras. This is due to the Cooperation Técnica Española and the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History, both of which have cooperated in maintaining the city’s historical sites.
In the downtown is located the Central Plaza. From this strategic point one can appreciate the cathedral of Comayagua and City Hall.
Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the Central Plaza serves as point of reference of the city. In it the residents gather to celebrate the local holidays and concerts of marimbas, among other activities.
Right in front of the plaza is located City Hall, which has been reconstructed a couple of times. The building is of neoclassic style and was built during the 16th century.
From the Central plaza one can also appreciate the city’s main attraction, the Cathedral of Comayagua. This church is one of the biggest and most beautiful churches built during the colonial era in Honduras. It was inaugurated on December 8, 1711.
maintains Joint Task Force Bravo
on Soto Cano Air Base with approximately 550 US military personnel and more than 650 US and Honduran civilians.
Comayagua is headquarters of Club Hispano
, of the Honduran National Soccer League. The club obtained its first promotion to the National League in 2004-2005. Nevertheless, after only their first season in the soccer league; they were relegated to second division once again. For this reason the board of directors, bought the first division franchise from Club Municipal-Valencia of Choluteca. The Club plays its home games at the municipal stadium 'Carlos Miranda' which currently holds about 10,000 spectators.
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, some 80 km northwest of Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
on the highway to San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula is a city in Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Valle de Sula , about 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean. With an estimated population of 638,259 people in the main municipality, and 802,598 in its metro area , it is the second...
at an elevation of 594 meters above sea level. In 2003 the estimated population was 60,000 people. It is the capital of the Comayagua department of Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
. The city is noted for its wealth of Spanish Colonial architecture. The central square has a cathedral with the oldest clock in the Americas.
History
Comayagua was founded with the name Santa María de la Nueva Valladolid by ConquistadorConquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
Alonso de Cáceres under orders from Francisco de Montejo
Francisco de Montejo
Francisco de Montejo y Alvarez was a Spanish conquistador in Mexico and Central America.Francisco de Montejo was born in Salamanca, Spain, in 1479 to Juan de Montejo and Catalina Alvarez de Tejeda. He left Spain in 1514, and arrived in Cuba in time to join Grijalva's expedition along the coast of...
, Governor of Yucatán
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
on December 8, 1537. From 1540 on Comayagua was the capital of the Honduras Province of the Captaincy General of Guatemala
Captaincy General of Guatemala
The Captaincy General of Guatemala , also known as the Kingdom of Guatemala , was an administrative division in Spanish America which covered much of Central America, including what are now the nations of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, and the Mexican state of Chiapas...
. In 1786 (23 December) the Spanish Crown created the Intendencia of Comayagua, with Comayagua as its capital which lasted until 1812. From 1812 to 1814 it was the capital of the Province of Comayagua when it again reverted to being the capital of the Intendencia of Comayagua until 1820. In 1820, Honduras was again called the Province of Comayagua or Honduras, with Comayagua as its capital. After independence from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
it was the capital of the state of Honduras in the United States of Central America. After Honduras became an independent republic, the capital alternated between Comayagua and Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
(Comayagua being preferred by Conservative administrations, and Tegucigalpa by Liberal ones) before being permanently established at Tegucigalpa in 1880.
In recent years Comayagua has become one of the most important tourist attractions in Honduras. This is due to the Cooperation Técnica Española and the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History, both of which have cooperated in maintaining the city’s historical sites.
In the downtown is located the Central Plaza. From this strategic point one can appreciate the cathedral of Comayagua and City Hall.
Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the Central Plaza serves as point of reference of the city. In it the residents gather to celebrate the local holidays and concerts of marimbas, among other activities.
Right in front of the plaza is located City Hall, which has been reconstructed a couple of times. The building is of neoclassic style and was built during the 16th century.
From the Central plaza one can also appreciate the city’s main attraction, the Cathedral of Comayagua. This church is one of the biggest and most beautiful churches built during the colonial era in Honduras. It was inaugurated on December 8, 1711.
Soto Cano Air Base
Soto Cano Air Base (formerly Palmerola Air Base) is a Honduran military installation located less than 10 miles (16.1 km) from Comayagua. The two miles (3 km) wide and six miles (10 km) long airbase is home of the Honduran Air Force Academy. United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
maintains Joint Task Force Bravo
Joint Task Force Bravo
Joint Task Force Bravo is one of three Task Forces under United States Southern Command . JTF-B is headquartered at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras , located 10 miles south of the Honduran city of Comayagua.-Mission:JTF-Bravo conducts joint, combined and interagency operations, and supports...
on Soto Cano Air Base with approximately 550 US military personnel and more than 650 US and Honduran civilians.
Sports
Hispano FC
Hispano Fútbol Club is an Honduran football club based in Comayagua, Comayagua. The club currently plays in Liga de Ascenso de Honduras.-History:...
, of the Honduran National Soccer League. The club obtained its first promotion to the National League in 2004-2005. Nevertheless, after only their first season in the soccer league; they were relegated to second division once again. For this reason the board of directors, bought the first division franchise from Club Municipal-Valencia of Choluteca. The Club plays its home games at the municipal stadium 'Carlos Miranda' which currently holds about 10,000 spectators.
Churches
- Cathedral of Comayagua
- La Merced
- Church of San Francisco
- Church of San Sebastian
- Church of The Charity