DESTINATIONS
Comayagua

Santa Maria de La Nueva Valladolid de Comayagua, or simply, Comayagua was founded by command of the government leader of Yucatan, Mr. Francisco de Montejo, who recommended his captain, Alonso de Caceres, to found a village in an area that is midway between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans and between Guatemala and Leon, Nicaragua. This is how on December 8, 1537, in the name of the King of Spain, Carlos I and of the Most Holy Mary of the Conception, he took hold of what is now the northern part of the city.

King Felipe II bestowed upon it the title of city in 1557. Its tactical position allowed it to quickly become the base of the ecclesiastic and civil powers and the economic and cultural center. After the independence from Spain in 1821 it became the Capital City.

The city is built according to the old Spanish system, with a central square and quadrangle blocks stemming from it. The city holds several buildings that keep a rich history Honduras’ past. The most important ones are its Cathedral, La Merced, La Caridad, San Francisco and San Sebastian churches, the Bishopric, and the Archaeology Museum of Comayagua, which used to be the Presidential House, the National Congress, and the Palace of Justice of the Supreme Court of Justice.

The house where Jose Trinidad Cabañas was born and the one where Francisco Morazán lived are now national landmarks. The central square has been recently remodeled and is perhaps the most beautiful one in the country. The facades of most houses and buildings in the historic district have been restored according to a master plan so the city can have its original ambience. The signs businesses bear is another characteristic that can be appreciated as a result of this project.

Perhaps the most outstanding tourist attraction the city has is the traditional celebration during Holy Week. The celebration starts on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday. During this period the city enters in a complete observation of the passion of Christ and has a series of processions, some of which are unique. Nevertheless the most attractive feature is the making of sawdust carpets throughout the city streets as a symbol of making the way to the cross easier for Jesus Christ. More than 20 carpets are elaborated by families, neighbors, and institutions that have been involved in this activity for decades, similar to what can be seen in Antigua Guatemala.

Another important trait of Comayagua is that it is where a military base of the United States of America is located and so is the female pilot school, which has already graduated several groups.

Interesting Places to Visit in Comayagua

The Cathedral

It was inaugurated on December 8, 1711 and it is the biggest and most beautiful cathedral built during the colonial period. Of the 16 original altarpieces only four still exist, all of which still exist and are made of gold-leafed wood, some with exquisite paintings and others with carved images. The main altarpiece has a 5 ft wide 10 ft long silver and gold front. One of its altars has a black Christ like the one in Esquipulas, Guatemala. The church has three vessels and 5 domes with one tower containing 8 bells and a Moor millenary clock. Under the cooperation of the Spanish International Cooperation the building has been totally renovated. Some of the colonial paintings that belong to the Cathedral are sometimes exhibited in the Comayagua Archaeological Museum awaiting their turn to be renovated so don’t forget to visit this museum.

The Cathedral’s Clock

Constructed by the Moors that had invaded Spain and placed in the Alhambra in the year 1100, it was donated by King Felipe III to what used to be La Merced Church in 1636. It stayed there for sixty-five years and in 1711 when the new Cathedral was inaugurated they transferred it to where it now tolls every fifteen minutes. This clock is the oldest one in the Americas that is still functioning.

La Merced Church

This church was built between the years 1550 and 1551 by Francisco Suarez under the supervision of Friar Gaspar de Quintanilla, being the oldest quarry and brick temple in Honduras and possibly the only one still standing in Central America. In 1561 it rose to the category of Cathedral becoming the first one in Honduras and one of the first ones in the Americas. It had two towers; the one to the right was partially destroyed in the 1774 earthquake and it used to house the clock donated by King Felipe III. The church also has very interesting and elaborate golden altarpieces and the XVII century statues of La Dolorosa (Lady of Sorrows), the Nazarene, Saint Peter, Saint John, and the Virgin of Mercy. The square in front of this church was recently remodeled to look like it did in colonial times so now you can enjoy the beauty of this city from here. A small craft market will be built by the square too.

La Caridad Church

It was originally dedicated to Saint Lucia and built at the end of the XVI century since it belonged to the Saint Lucia indian settlement near the city itself. During the XVII century the indian population decreased and more ethnic groups were formed so it became the church that ‘pardos’ (a combination of Indian, Spanish and Black), mulattos, and Indians visited and became La Caridad Church. At the back of the church there are the remains of the only open church or indian church in Honduras. Its facade was constructed in 1640 and in 1735 Bishop Guadalupe had the bell tower built. Inside you can see the image of the Lord on the Donkey, a natural size statue with articulations that is placed on top of a real donkey on Palm Sunday that walks around the city. There is also a XVI century image of Saint Lucia.

San Francisco Church and Convent

It was founded in 1560 by the second order that came to Comayagua, the Anthonines, so the original name was Saint Anthony. By 1575 the temple was under the care of the Franciscans, who arrived in Honduras as a request from Friar Jeronimo de Casilla. During the earthquake of 1774 the original dome fell down and was substituted by a false dome made of wood. According to XIX century records it was made of laced wood but after the earthquake of 1808 it was very damaged but it still survived until 1916 when the Cappuccinos had it replaced by another false dome also made of wood in the central vessel and the sides were covered by a flat roof.

Its only tower has what is perhaps the oldest bell in the Americas where you can read an inscription that says, ‘‘Anthonian Bell, melted in Alcala de Enares in the year 1460’’.

Inside the church there are several gold leafed golden wood altarpieces. In one of its niches you find the church that used to be in the square but that, according to legend, a ghost in the shape of a cloud used to appear on Fridays over the Chiquito River and at twelve o’clock would surround the cross until an exorcism was practiced by the Franciscan Priest Esteban Verdelete.

The edifice also houses the most beautiful statue of the Nazarene in Comayagua whose stare captivates those who see it making them have mixed feelings.

La Caxa Real

It was the most important civil construction during Colonial times in Comayagua. Unfortunately very little of the original building remains, first because of the 1774 earthquake and later because of a fire that damaged it inasmuch that it was abandoned in 1840. Eventually, what little was left of it was destroyed and now there is a basketball court inside. During the post-independence era it was the government’s headquarters. Only a small portion of its facade remains as a witness of its past greatness.

Colonial Museum

It is located inside the Episcopal Palace, built in 1735. Inside you can admire a rich collection of paintings, sculptures, gold embroidered clothing, cups, gold vessels with emerald insertions, and many jewels that belonged to the saints dating back to the colonial era, historical documents, including Francisco Morazán’s marriage certificate. The museum is open Monday thru Saturday from 9 a.m. till noon and from 2 p.m. until 4:30 in the afternoon. On Sundays and holidays it is closed. A small rate is charged at the entrance so first consult about it.

Anthropology and History Museum

It was recently reinaugurated and is located in a XVI century house that was totally restored and that during the Republican Period was the country’s first Presidential House and quartered the Congress as well. Where the hall in which the library is located paintings have been found that show that probably the Supreme Court of Justice also functioned here.

The Executive Branch was set here since 1862 until the capital was transferred to Tegucigalpa in 1880. During the XX century these houses was used as a military headquarters, post office, telegraph office and finally became a museum in 1940 after a restoration process during Carias’ administration. Now it is not only an archaeology museum but also a school dedicated to teach old building styles. Masons, carpenters, blacksmiths, painters, etc. are trained here to rehabilitate old buildings which were once Comayagua’s glory. The museum and Central Square were remodeled by alumni and students of this institution. It is probably the only museum in the world dedicated to the Lenca culture and has a rich collection of polychrome pottery made up of vessels, pots, jade artifacts, etc.

Its temporary collection hall shows more than 200 pictures from Holy Week in Comayagua that include photographs of the carpets, processions, monuments and saint statues and also a multicolor sawdust carpet.

The museum is open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. from Tuesday thru Sunday. There are different prices for Hondurans and foreigners.

Don’t forget to see the original paintings from the Cathedral, which are waiting for their turn to be restored as a part of the restoration process.

How do I get to Comayagua?

It is very easy to get to Comayagua. The country’s main highway passes right at the side of the city connecting with Tegucigalpa (about 50 miles away to the south) and San Pedro Sula (87 miles to the north). It is in the middle of a large valley about 1,800 feet above sea level, surrounded by majestic mountains, so the climate is warm and usually becomes cooler at night.

You can go to Comayagua and return on the same day to Tegucigalpa so you can spend the night in a comfortable hotel here, even though the city also has good hotels, bars, and restaurants. If you wish to travel with us you may want to see the tour options in Tegucigalpa that can include a visit to this historical place. In case this option is not what you desire to get in touch with us so we can prepare something else according to your wants. Remember that the colonial city of Comayagua is expecting you.