Historia del Municipio de Iztapa

En 1527, Iztapa era ya conocida por los españoles, pues en esa fecha Don Pedro de Alvarado construyó allí tres naves para la expedición al Perú, atraído por supuesto por las fabulosas riquezas de los Incas.   En 1534, Alvarado construyó otra flota, de tres naves, esta vez convirtiendo al Puerto de Iztapa en el primer astillero naval de Centro América.  En 1590 contando con la real aprobación, se iniciaron trabajos formales para habilitar el Puerto de Iztapa y se autorizó la comercialización con el lejano Oriente, bajo la supervisión de don Pedro de Mellen de Rueda, Presidente de la Real Audiencia.

El 15 de marzo de 1833, la Asamblea facultó al gobierno la inversión de seis mil pesos (moneda nacional) para el establecimiento de la población de Iztapa y por decreto del 30 de abril de 1834, la misma asamblea dispone que se conceda media caballería de terreno a los que se avecinen en el lugar y seis caballerías a los que se comprometan a mantener servicio de carreteras entre Iztapa y Escuintla.  Ya con fecha 18 de febrero de 1824 se había rehabilitado como Puerto, con el nombre de “Puerto Independencia”, y todas estas disposiciones tendían a hacer realidad el funcionamiento del Puerto.  Hasta que por decreto del 12 de marzo de 1852, el puerto fue trasladado al paraje denominado “El Zapote” conocido ahora con el nombre de Puerto San José; pues los dueños de los convoyes de carretas se quejaban de lo pantanoso del terreno, lo cual dificultaba el libre tránsito7.

Cultura e Identidad

La cultura y la identidad son componente esencial de la realidad social, ya que las mismas dan sustento a elementos de carácter subjetivo y objetivo que se evidencian en acciones sociales y que pueden en determinado momento ser recursos o limitaciones para el desarrollo. En el municipio de Iztapa   se realiza cada año actividades culturales y tradiciones; elección de reinado de belleza en el mes de septiembre, se acostumbra el 1 de noviembre adornar las tumbas de los difuntos. Además se celebra el 15 de septiembre día de la independencia se realizan desfiles por los diferentes establecimientos educativos con bandas escolares.

La fiesta titular se celebra del 20 al 24 de Octubre en honor a San Miguel Arcángel, es una de las actividades más populares donde se realizan actividades como ventas de comida típica, juegos de mesa y mecánicos, conciertos, marimba y bailes.

Lugares sagrados se encuentran dos lugares de carácter sagrado como  “El Manacal” y “El Cerrito”,  por sus características de identidad Maya; estos lugares se encuentran en una finca privada y no están declarados por ninguna entidad pública como patrimonio del país. Su importancia reside en dos montículos donde se han encontrado con cierta frecuencia diversas figuras o deidades Mayas y elementos de la cultura precolombina.

La Antigua Guatemala

It was the third seat of the capital of the kingdom of Guatemala called which included the current states of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica and Chiapas. Following the destruction by flood of the second site, located in the Valley of Almolonga, on the slopes of Volcan de Agua (where he had been taken after leaving the first settlement in Iximché in 1527) was built from 1543 in the Valley Panchoy, and established as head of the Real Audiencia of Guatemala in 1549.2 During development and splendor was known as one of the three most beautiful cities of the Spanish Indies. The city, whose original name was Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, competing with cities like Mexico, Puebla de Zaragoza, Lima, Quito and Potosi. However, the special circumstances of the earthquakes on July 29, 1773, in the flowering of baroque, cut its natural process of growth and change. Also, this city exerted considerable influence on the aesthetics surrounding area and much of Central America, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, and Chiapas, to the north. The city is known as the "City of Eternal Roses" and its inhabitants as "Green bellies". An important fact for the religious history of Guatemala, is that the August 5, 1717 consecrated the image of Jesus Nazareno de la Merced, in this city (image is now in the Church of Our Lady of Mercy in the area 1 Guatemala City, Guatemala). The city was the final resting place of the great Spanish chronicler Bernal Diaz del Castillo where his remains lie in one of the ruined churches affected by earthquakes. What was his last residence and other colonial historical sites are also conserved. Because of the two severe earthquakes, known as Santa Marta earthquakes that destroyed much of the city, the president of the Audiencia of Guatemala, Martín de Mayorga, decided it was appropriate to rebuild the city in a safer place. The New City New Guatemala of the Assumption, which is now the City of Guatemala, the present capital of Guatemala located just over 40 kilometers was called. On February 4, 1976 was rocked by an earthquake measuring 7.5 degrees on the Richter scale, which destroyed much of the country, and caused some damage to some buildings in the city like the Palace of the Captains General and the Cathedral of San again José. During colonial times received the title of "the most beautiful city of the Indies (America)", because of its exquisite architecture.

Esquipulas Esquipulas a muncipio located in east-central eastern

Guatemala, is part of the department of Chiquimula. Its municipal seat is the city of Esquipulas, founded during the Spanish and initially called Santiago de Esquipulas colony. In pre-Hispanic times was inhabited by the Maya Chortí, who during the Spanish conquest moved to other nearby muncipios. Between 1545 and 1560, the town of Santiago de Esquipulas was founded, also known as Yzquipulas and was until 1821 that the name of Esquipulas and his appointment as municipality official.

Historically the city is known for being one of the city's most important Catholic pilgrimage in Latin America because it is the Basilica of Esquipulas, home of the Black Christ, revered in most of Central America and southern Mexico. It also has other churches of great importance for devout Catholics as James Parish, Church of Bethlehem Convent and the Church of the Holy Cruz.

The Payaquí was the culture that believes that developed in this county during the pre-Hispanic era, although this has not been proven, according to Juan Perez Dardón founder of the town of Yzquipulas, slaves of origin Maya chortí and Maya Payaquí were brought other regions of the Province of Sierra Chiquimula. According stelae and jerogríficos found in Copan and Quirigua, was the priest Topiltzin Axcitl or Nacxit the founder of this kingdom. The origin of this kingdom is in deep mystery of culture maya.2 It is believed that this culture came to this county from Copan, Honduras, this culture did not leave a trail, why not check it really inhabited this municipio.3 4 Therefore some historians state of origin and founded by Spanish.

In 1525 Juan Perez Dardón, Sancho de Barahona and Bartolomé Becerra captains under the command of Pedro de Alvarado conquered the province of Chiquimula de la Sierra. In 1526 the province was under Spanish control, which facilitated the entry of conquistadores.5 Between 1550 and 1560 the town was founded by Juan Pérez of Yzquipulas Dardón as the second most important site Chiquimula trade. In 1552 a road that connected the town of Yzquipulas Chiquimula the villa was built, was 63 miles long and 4 meters wide. As part of the dotrina brought by the Spanish conquerors, the Catholic religion was imposed on all resident of this town. A chapel and a convent was built on a hill near the village, in addition thereto a delegation that was in charge of Spanish troops, which had 5 cañones.6 For early eighteenth century was one of the Spanish communities built more numerous, according to the book of baptisms with a population of 198 people. A century later, the Spanish community population stood at 851, representing 30% of this total community Chiquimula department. The population increase was due to the attraction that caused the fertility of the valleys of this county.

XELAJU

What is now the housing settlement of

Quetzaltenango, dates back to many centuries before the Castilian conquest in

ancient times there was a great lake that covered part of what is now the historic

center of the city, around the Quarter Swamp and Municipalities of Salcajá and

Totonicapan. The quetzalteco scientist Dr. Manuel Serrano Munoz, he studied the

microscopic algae Cienaga, and found that it was actually a lake, leaving few

traces as many water sources, fishes, crabs, snails, plants and other specimens of

aquatic life.

POPULATION SETTLEMENT INDIAN TERRITORY MAM:

The valley of Quetzaltenango and Palajunoj many centuries before the conquest,

found in the titles of the House IXQUIN Nehaib. Lady Otzayá Territory, indicates

that it was a head Capul (meeting concíabulo) known as NIMA AMAC: A large

village MAMES MAIN, occupying large area of the western territory of Guatemala,

as the seat of its great fortification in present is the departmental head of

Huehuetenango, with its archaeological site Zaculeu shows the MAM manor

ethnicity. KULAJÁ was called under the throat which means water, in what is now

Quetzaltenango. The chief means MAMES LAHUJ Queh Ten deer, and is the

name of one of the days of their calendar was called.

TO CONQUER THE QUICHES MAMES:

In 1300 the leaders of the Confederation QUICHÉ, NIAJIB And KAVECK conquer

the MAMES with a large army, subjecting them cruelly, executing and taking their

women for himself, giving both the allegiance of the conquered, and the birth

obviously a FIRST mESTIZAJE in the region. MAMES forced many to migrate

throughout the West, reaching territory of Soconusco, Chiapas Mexico today. The

capital of the powerful kingdom Kiche Gumarkaj is located in what is today the

head of the Quiché Department, there had their dominion and stone pyramids, that

the arrival of the Spaniards used the material to build the church especially.

By taking possession of the new territory kichés, who appointed KULAJA Mam,

what rebautizan as XELAJU. And Xelahuh XELAHUJ Queh, or the 10th in your

calendar, so says Don Adrián Recinos. CHI lahum QUIEH in the actual title of Don

Francisco Izquím. Location of the 10 deer. Castilianized name: XELAJU.

Castillo de San Felipe (Ferrol)

The Castle of San Felipe was one of the military strengths of Ferrol. It is located in the town of Ferrol, La Coruña province, autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.

It was built in the sixteenth century. In front of the castle, on the river, the castle of La Palma and the castle of San Martin (which can hardly be seen ruins today), both in the town of Mugardos is. Between Castel San Martin and San Felipe castle a thick chain in the sea that prevented the entry of enemy ships at Ferrol tended. In 1557 the construction of the castle hosted by Felipe II, from which it takes its name, and is between the years 1731 and 1755 is started when the engineer Montaigu Francisco will design a series of reforms among which the construction of a hornabeque, the moat and the draft from the front door. Its design is based on the technical teachings of Vauban and uneven ground. Based on the ideas of Vauban form is given, so the shipping channel entrance, as the terrain and in it we can see a fairly regular geometry, with hornabeque as its core, had a plant in arrowhead, heading towards the sea a double line of fire organized on two floors; and projecting toward its ground against a large hornabeque. One shortcoming of this rampart which was dominated by the surrounding heights partly what made him vulnerable to a land attack.

Tikal National Park

The Tikal National Park is located in the department of Petén, in northern Guatemala. Its coordinates are 17 ° 13'N 89 ° 37'O17 .217, 89 617.

It has 57,583 ha, and was created on May 26, 1955. In 1979 he was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, both for their natural values and cultural. Since 1990 is part of the global network of biosphere reserves within the Maya Biosphere Reserve.

The main tourist attraction of the park is the ancient Mayan city of Tikal, surrounded by jungle.

The park sits on limestone terrain, so that surface water is scarce. The climate is humid tropical. Throughout the year a dry and a rainy season occur. Annual rainfall varies between 1000 and 2400 mm. Temperatures range between 28 and 35 º C, and the minimum between 15 and 22 º C.

The park is covered by umbrófila primary forest, with a canopy that rises to fifty yards. The most abundant trees are the ceiba (Ceiba pentandra) the sacred tree of the Maya, the American cedar (Cedrela odorata), sapodilla (Manilkara zapota), Honduran mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), rosewood (Tabebuia rosea) ramon (Brosimum alicastrum), the ant (Platymiscium dimorphandrum), the tree Santa Maria (Calophyllum brasiliense), the yarumo (Cecropia peltata), copal (Cupania belizensis), the cojón (Stemmadenia donnell-smithii), palm broom (Cryosophila argentea) and pepper (Pimenta dioica).

Still have not made a detailed inventory of the fauna park.

Among the mammals that inhabit the park include the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), the jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), jaguarundi (Felis yaguarondi), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii) the common paca (Agouti paca), the Mexican anteater (Tamandua mexicanus), the kinkajou (Potos flavus), northern raccoon (Procyon lotor), Eira (Eira barbara), the red brocket (Mazama americana) and Northern tapir (Tapirus bairdii); can also be found agoutis (Dasyprocta), coatis (Nasua), spider monkeys (Ateles), howler monkeys (Alouatta), peccaries (Tayassuidae), armadillos (Dasypodidae), bats (Microchiroptera) ...

There is a great diversity of birds. Include the harpy eagle (Harpy Eagle), the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata), the pechirrojo falcon (Falco deiroleucus), speckled quail (Odontophorus guttatus), the conoto Moctezuma (Psarocolius montezuma), American darter (Anhinga anhinga) the Central American Jacana (Jacana spinosa), the ram bucket (cochlearius cochlearius), the carrao (limpkin), Mexican avetigre (Tigrisoma mexicanum), the hooded parrot (Pionopsitta haematotis), senile parrot (Pionus senilis), the Amazon frentialba (Amazona albifrons), the frentirroja Amazon (Amazona autumnalis), the Burrona Amazon (Amazona farinosa) and pechisucio parakeet (Aratinga nana), and various species of hummingbirds (Trochilidae), toucans (Ramphastidae), woodpeckers (Picidae) momotos (Momotidae) and cracids.

The herpetofauna is also very diverse, with 19 species of frogs, five turtles, 24 lizards, such as the green iguana (Iguana iguana), 41 snakes, a salamander and two crocodiles: the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and Morelet's crocodile (Morelet's crocodile). There are several poisonous snakes, coral snake (Micrurus altirostris), the Central American rattlesnake (Crotalus simus) and the stone hand snakes (Atropoides nummifer) CHATILLA Jungle (Porthidium nasutum), and especially the yellow beard or velvet (Bothrops asper).

Among insects abound leafcutter ants. Also found in the park machaca (laternaria Fulgora), the Hercules beetle (hercules Dynastes) and many other species.

Himno nacional ¡Guatemala feliz...! que tus arasno profane jamás el verdugo;ni haya esclavos que laman el yugoni tiranos que escupan tu faz.Si mañana tu suelo sagradolo amenaza invasión extranjera,libre al viento tu hermosa banderaa vencer o a morir llamará.CoroLibre al viento tu hermosa banderaa vencer o a morir llamará;que tu pueblo con ánima fieraantes muerto que esclavo será.De tus viejas y duras cadenastú forjaste con mano iracunda,el arado que el suelo fecunday la espada que salva el honor.Nuestros padres lucharon un díaencendidos en patrio ardimiento,y lograron sin choque sangrientocolocarte en un trono de amor.CoroY lograron sin choque sangrientocolocarte en un trono de amor,que de patria en enérgico acentodieron vida al ideal redentor.

Es tu enseña pedazo de cieloen que prende una nube su albura,y ¡ay! de aquel que con ciega locurasus colores pretenda manchar.Pues tus hijos valientes y altivos,que veneran la paz cual presea,nunca esquivan la ruda peleasi defienden su tierra y su hogar.CoroNunca esquivan la ruda peleasi defienden su tierra y su hogar,que es tan sólo el honor su alma ideay el altar de la patria su altar.Recostada en el Ande soberbio,de dos mares al ruido sonoro,bajo el ala de grana y de orote adormeces del bello quetzal.Ave indiana que vive en tu escudo,paladión que protege tu suelo;¡ojalá que remonte su vuelo,más que el cóndor y el águila real!Coro¡Ojalá que remonte su vuelo,más que el cóndor y el águila real!y en sus alas levante hasta el cielo,Guatemala, tu nombre inmortal.