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Comayagua
Comayagua (Spanish pronunciation: [komaˈʝaɣwa]) is a city, municipality and old capital of Honduras, located 80 km (50 mi) northwest of Tegucigalpa on the highway to San Pedro Sula and 594 m (1,949 ft) above sea level.
The accelerated growth experienced by the city of Comayagua led the municipal authorities to structure a territorial reorganization plan. Between the years of 1945 -1975 the population of the city quadrupled due to the high rate of population growth achieved at that time (4.8%) and to migratory movements in the interior of the country. In 2023 the estimated population of the city was 120,500. It is the capital of the Comayagua department of Honduras and it is noted for its wealth of Spanish Colonial architecture. The cathedral, at the central square, has the oldest clock in the Americas.
Comayagua is known today as "La Antañona" (transl. 'the old one') by Hondurans. They call it that because[citation needed] in addition to being one of the oldest cities in Honduras, it still maintains a large part of its buildings with architectural value from the colonial era. Its historic center "is the most restored and preserved nationwide."
The Spaniards named the place "Valladolid" or "País de las Higueras" (transl. 'country of the fig trees'), but the city formally kept the original, indigenous name of the place. Some differ over its etymology, but most agree that it is composed of koma (which in Lenca means 'huge amount of land') and jawa 'water', its true meaning being 'abundant land of water'.[citation needed]
During the Pre-Columbian era the valley in which the city is located was populated by Lenca people, a Mesomaerican native culture that still survives in Honduras. Archaeological remains such as Yarumela show that these natives have populated the valley since approximately 1,000 B.C.
The flat topography and subtropical climate helped these natives to prosper and built its own societies and towns, most of its economic activities were the control of trade routes that connected the Caribbean sea to the Pacific Ocean. During the colonization of the American continent the Spaniard conquistadors found a rich valley with different Lencan towns, most of them well organized with a high social stratification. these natives were the ones that gave a well-done resistance during the conquest of Honduras.
Comayagua was founded in 1537 by the Spaniard Captain Alonso de Cáceres in compliance with instructions "to find an apparent situation to form a city in the middle of the two oceans" by order of the advance Francisco de Montejo, first governor of Hibueras (modern day Honduras) as it was first known to Honduras. The city was originally called "Santa María de la Concepción de Comayagua."
On 20 November 1542, King Philip II of Spain ordered that the Real Audiencia de los Confines reside in Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, but the Council of the Indies ordered on 13 September 1543 to install its headquarters in the town of the Concepción de Comayagua. In the same provision it is given the name of "Villa de la Nueva Valladolid de Comayagua" in honor of Valladolid of Spain, where at the time of signing the founding letter of the hearing, the Court resided.
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Comayagua
Comayagua (Spanish pronunciation: [komaˈʝaɣwa]) is a city, municipality and old capital of Honduras, located 80 km (50 mi) northwest of Tegucigalpa on the highway to San Pedro Sula and 594 m (1,949 ft) above sea level.
The accelerated growth experienced by the city of Comayagua led the municipal authorities to structure a territorial reorganization plan. Between the years of 1945 -1975 the population of the city quadrupled due to the high rate of population growth achieved at that time (4.8%) and to migratory movements in the interior of the country. In 2023 the estimated population of the city was 120,500. It is the capital of the Comayagua department of Honduras and it is noted for its wealth of Spanish Colonial architecture. The cathedral, at the central square, has the oldest clock in the Americas.
Comayagua is known today as "La Antañona" (transl. 'the old one') by Hondurans. They call it that because[citation needed] in addition to being one of the oldest cities in Honduras, it still maintains a large part of its buildings with architectural value from the colonial era. Its historic center "is the most restored and preserved nationwide."
The Spaniards named the place "Valladolid" or "País de las Higueras" (transl. 'country of the fig trees'), but the city formally kept the original, indigenous name of the place. Some differ over its etymology, but most agree that it is composed of koma (which in Lenca means 'huge amount of land') and jawa 'water', its true meaning being 'abundant land of water'.[citation needed]
During the Pre-Columbian era the valley in which the city is located was populated by Lenca people, a Mesomaerican native culture that still survives in Honduras. Archaeological remains such as Yarumela show that these natives have populated the valley since approximately 1,000 B.C.
The flat topography and subtropical climate helped these natives to prosper and built its own societies and towns, most of its economic activities were the control of trade routes that connected the Caribbean sea to the Pacific Ocean. During the colonization of the American continent the Spaniard conquistadors found a rich valley with different Lencan towns, most of them well organized with a high social stratification. these natives were the ones that gave a well-done resistance during the conquest of Honduras.
Comayagua was founded in 1537 by the Spaniard Captain Alonso de Cáceres in compliance with instructions "to find an apparent situation to form a city in the middle of the two oceans" by order of the advance Francisco de Montejo, first governor of Hibueras (modern day Honduras) as it was first known to Honduras. The city was originally called "Santa María de la Concepción de Comayagua."
On 20 November 1542, King Philip II of Spain ordered that the Real Audiencia de los Confines reside in Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, but the Council of the Indies ordered on 13 September 1543 to install its headquarters in the town of the Concepción de Comayagua. In the same provision it is given the name of "Villa de la Nueva Valladolid de Comayagua" in honor of Valladolid of Spain, where at the time of signing the founding letter of the hearing, the Court resided.