Whose capital is the city of tegucigalpa. Is Tegucigalpa as terrible as it is painted? National Museum of Anthropology and History

Tegucigalpa is the capital and The largest city Honduras. Population 1,682,725 inhabitants. The third largest city in Central America (after Guatemala and San Salvador). The city is located among the mountains of the central part of the country, in the valley of the Choluteca River at an altitude of about 1000 m above sea level. Tegucigalpa is also the capital of the Francisco Morazán department. City coordinates: 14°05′39″ s. sh. 87°12′24″ W e. Time zone: UTC-6.

Tegucigalpa city map

History of the city of Tegucigalpa

The city was founded on September 29, 1578 on the site of an Indian settlement. Translated from the language of the Indians, "Tegucigalpa" means "silver hills." The city was originally called San Miguel de Tegucigalpa de Heredia. Tegucigalpa was proclaimed the capital of Honduras several times, but finally became it in 1880. The reason for this event was the desire of President Marco Aurelio Soto to be closer to his business.

In the 1930s, the city of Comayagüela was incorporated into the city. But until the 1960s, Tegucigalpa remained small. provincial town. Since the 1970s, the city of Tegucigalpa has grown at a rapid pace.

Tegucigalpa today

Tegucigalpa develops quite chaotically. The city's economy is growing due to migrants coming in search of work. The city has Toncontin International Airport, but it is worth noting that it is one of the ten most dangerous airports peace. Now the government is trying to move all flights to Palmerola airport.

Attractions of the city of Tegucigalpa

The main attraction of Tegucigalpa is the Church of Iglesia de San Francisco (1592). Very beautiful is the Cathedral of San Miguel (1765-1782), famous for its gilded altar and carved stone cross. The Church of Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Los Dolores (1732) is believed to have miraculous properties.

Famous sights include: the complex of the National art gallery; the National Congress complex and Presidential palace.

The most popular street of the city is Caye Peatonal, where the largest shops and cafes are located. Next to the street is Herrera Park, on the territory of which is the National Theater Manuel Bonilla (1915). Copies of Mayan sculptures can be seen in La Concordia Park.

Central square of the city is the area of Morazan. Here is located the Cathedral of San Miguel and the statue of Francisco Morazana.
You can plunge into the colonial past of the country by visiting the Cerro el Picacho hill, which is dotted with old buildings. It is customary to observe the panorama of the city at the foot of the Cristo del Picacho monument (1997), located in the Parque de las Naciones Unidas.

Noteworthy is the monument to La Paz, built in 1969 in honor of the end of the "football war"; Museum military history; Museum of Natural History.

The most common version of the name Tegucigalpa comes from the words Tegus-galpa of the Nahuatl Indian language, which means "silver hills". The Guatemalan researcher, Favio Rodoso, put forward the version that Tegucigalpa in Nahuatl means a bird on the origin of the name Tegucigalpa. There were other hypotheses put forward by two Mexican experts, Ignacio Davila Garibi and Alfredo Barrera Vazquez, that the word Tegucigalpa comes from the Nualtian Tegustlikalipan (Tecuztlicallipan), or "Residence of the rich" or Tegutzilkapan (Tecuhtzincalpan) or "Place of the house of Senor Amando". But none of the versions other than the official one is not widely used.

Story

Tegucigalpa was founded on September 29, 1578 on the site of an existing Indian settlement. The original name of the city was San Miguel de Tegucigalpa de Heredia. At that time it was the center of silver and gold mines. The first capital of Honduras was the port city of Trujillo. Later, the capital was moved to the city of Gracias in the western department of Lempira. In the future, the capital was again transferred several times to Tegucigalpa, then to Comayagua. Tegucigalpa finally became the capital in 1880. One of the reasons for the final transfer of the capital to Tegucigalpa was the desire of the then President Marcus Aurelius Soto to be closer to his mining business, which was located 40 km from Tegucigalpa.

The city remained small and provincial until the 1960s. In the 1930s, the city of Comayagüela, on the other side of the Choluteca River, was incorporated into Tegucigalpa. The city is now experiencing a boom, expanding beyond the colonial city and continuing to grow at a rapid pace, but rather chaotically. Today, the city is also growing thanks to economic migrants who come to the capital from the provinces in search of work and a better future.

Georgaffia

The capital of Honduras is conditionally divided by the Choluteca River into two halves - mountainous and flat. The plain refers to the part of the city located on the slopes of Mount El Picacho, and several areas on the plateau of Comayagua. The main feature of Tegucigalpa is its mild climate and fresh air. The city is constantly blown by mountain winds, and in addition, pine forests have been preserved on the slopes of the nearby mountains, bringing coolness to the inhabitants.

Hurricane Mitch

October 22, 1998 the waters of the southwestern part caribbean gave rise to a tropical depression, which in a day grew into a tropical hurricane, called Mitch. Gaining power, Mitch rushed north and by October 26, his strength exceeded 12 points, generating continuous winds with speeds up to 290 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 320. On October 30, 1998, the city of Tegucigalpa was badly damaged as a result of this hurricane. Part of the area of the city of Comayagua, as well as some other places along the Choluteca River, were destroyed. Rain and showers accompanied the hurricane for 5 days, saturating the ground with water and leading to landslides throughout the country, but most of all - in the capital along the Choluteca River.

Attractions

The main attraction of the city is the Church of Iglesia de San Francisco. Most of the current church was erected in 1740, although the building itself began to be built in 1592. She has a majestic appearance and interior in traditional Spanish style. In front of the park area of Parque Central stands the Cathedral of San Miguel, built for almost 20 years, from 1765-1782. It has a gilded altar and a carved stone cross, which are still objects of pilgrimage for tourists. The premises of the old University of Antigua Paraninfo-Universitaria currently used as Art Museum. South of Parque Central, rises the National Art Gallery complex, or Paraninfo, with a vast collection of Central American art. The National University was originally built as a nunnery. Next door to National University there is a huge complex of the National Congress - the main government building of the country. In the quarter to the west you can find the Presidential Palace, which houses the Historical Museum of the Republic. special attention deserves Calle Peatonal or Pedestrian Street, literally crammed with shops, cafes and street shops. To the west lies the cozy and shady Parque Herrera, on the south side of which the complex is located. National Theater Manuel Bonilla, built in 1915 and which is almost an exact copy of the Parisian building Atheni-Comique. In Parque La Concordia, exact copies of the Mayan sculptures of the Copan culture, which are stored in the museums of the country, are exhibited. To the northwest you can find the small domed church of Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Los Dolores, built in 1732. Its facade is decorated with biblical scenes, and inside there is a unique altar, which, according to some residents, has miraculous properties. Two blocks west of Los Dolores is the Villa Roy mansion, home of President Julio Lozano Diaz, which now houses National Museum anthropology and history with an extensive exposition on the history of the country and a small library. Morazán Square is also considered one of the central parts of the city and is used as a popular meeting place and venue for social events. The statue in the center of the square was erected in honor of the national hero Francisco Morazan. Today, the National Library is located in his native house. On the eastern edge of the square rises the snow-white facade of the Cathedral of San Miguel, built in 1782. North of the square Morazán is an old suburb that was once home to wealthy emigrants. The hillsides of Cerro el Picacho are literally crammed with old buildings, reminiscent of the colonial past of the capital. In the Parque de las Naciones Unidas, the youngest monument of the capital rises - the massive monument of Cristo del Picacho (1997), from the foot of which a breathtaking panorama of the city and its surroundings opens. To the east of the center begins a respectable area called Colonia Palmyra, where most of the foreign embassies, luxury hotels and rich residences of the capital are concentrated. In the east of the capital is Morazan Boulevard - the entertainment center of Tegucigalpa. It is also often referred to as La Zona Viva. The boulevard borders on the main stadium of the country - Estado Nacional. The La Paz monument, visible to the south of the stadium, was built to commemorate the end of the 1969 "football war" in which about two thousand people died. Noteworthy is the Museum of Military History in Valle Park - a private collection of items from pre-Columbian cultures of America - Sala Bancatlan (open from 9.00 to 15.00) on Miraflores Boulevard, the Museum of Natural History in the complex of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) with an extensive exposition of various ecosystems of the country. The main market of the capital - San Isidro, stretches between the 6th avenida and Calle Uno from the Puente Carias river bridge.

Administration

The city administration consists of the mayor and five councilors from different political parties. The representative of the National Party of Honduras, Ricardo Alvarez, was elected mayor of the city.

Airport

Toncontin International Airport (Toncontin) serves as the main airport for arriving and departing from Tegucigalpa. The origin of this name is unknown. This airport is often criticized for being one of the most dangerous in the world (due to its location next to a mountain range, its too short runway, and a difficult approach that requires large commercial aircraft to perform a strenuous hairpin left turn at a very low altitude to land on a very short runway. For this, even qualified American Airlines pilots receive an additional specialized take-off and landing at Toncontin Efforts have been made over the years to replace this with Palmerola Airport in Comayagua, now an air base for the US Air Force and Honduras.On May 30, 2008, the airport was hit by a plane crash in which a TACA airliner skidded off the runway and crashed into an embankment, destroying several vehicles.The crash killed 5 and injured 65 people.President Gondu Race Mal Zelaya announced that within a few years all commercial flights would be transferred to the safer Palmerola Airport.

a - the largest city and capital Honduras with a population of 1.7 million people. Tegucigalpa is the third most populated city in Central America (after Guatemala City and San Salvador). The city is located at an altitude of about 1000 meters above sea level in the valley of the Choluteca River.

Due to this location, Tegucigalpa always has clean and fresh air, and its climate is very mild and pleasant.

Tegucigalpa became the capital of Honduras in 1880, until that time it was an inconspicuous town that lived by extracting silver and gold from nearby mines. Now the capital is experiencing a boom in migration. Many residents of Honduras come to the capital to earn money and settle here.

How to get there

From all major cities in the nearby countries of El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, Tegucigalpa can be reached by international buses. The cost of such a move will cost about 40-70 USD. Usually these are overnight journeys, the price includes meals, blankets and other services. We traveled with a company that carries out transportation throughout Central America and in Honduras in particular.

direct flights there is no connection between Russia and Honduras, so you will have to fly with transfers. The cheapest flights will be those that fly through the US with a change in Atlanta, New York, Miami, Houston. There are flights flying through Europe, but they are more expensive.

All planes land in the main international airport city - Toncontin (Toncontin), which, due to the terrain, is one of the ten most dangerous airports in the world. But don't worry, pilots flying to Tegucigalpa are specially trained to land planes here.

Where to settle

The Chokuleta River divides the capital into two parts quite different from each other: on the eastern bank, the Tegucigalpa with its business and commercial centers, colonial old buildings and wealthy areas. The west coast is represented by the poor neighborhoods of the sister city Comayagüela with its dirty markets, many cheap hotels and big amount transport terminals.

It is best to look for accommodation in the area of Morazan Boulevard (boulevard Morazan). It's pretty quiet place, there are many shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels. From here you can easily leave and arrive and close to the sights of the capital.

Transport in Tegucigalpa

Getting around by public transport in Tegucigalpa is quite difficult, firstly, there is no transport system type of subway or monorail, the second is that presented public transport as buses(omnibus) and fixed-route taxis (busitos (micro-omnibus)) does not have any organization at all. It is not clear where the stop is, it is not clear where he is going and it is not clear when. You need to ask everything from the locals or the drivers, without knowing Spanish in any way. I guess it's worth every penny.

If you settle in the center, then such transport may not be useful, because. all attractions are within walking distance.

If you have not figured out the buses, then it is better to move around the city by Taxi. There are a lot of them here - there are official and unofficial ones, unofficial ones are cheaper. They differ very simply: the official ones are white with a yellow number on the door, the unofficial ones are just cars. All cars are shabby to varying degrees, sometimes you are surprised that this is also going. It is better to use the official ones, I think, negotiate the price with the driver.

Attractions Tegucigalpa

Tegucigalpa offers its guests, first of all, a number of architectural buildings of the colonial period, fresh mountain air and hot local residents, a meeting with which can end very badly.

Church of St. Francis. Iglesia de San Francisco.

Iglesia de San Francisco or Cathedral of Tegucigalpa is the main attraction of the city, most of which was built already in 1740, although it is known from the facts that the construction began already in 1592. It is located on the main square of the city - Plaza Morazan. The traditional Spanish style and majestic appearance give it a special beauty. Inside, the church boasts a gilded altar and a carved stone cross.

Church of Our Lady Dolores. Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de los Dolores.

Another interesting church in the capital of Honduras is Iglesia de Nuestra Se?ora de los Dolores or simply Iglesia de Los Dolores (1732). Its peculiarity is that the facade is decorated with biblical scenes, it is built in the Baroque style, and the interior is represented by the styles of three directions: European, Indian and African cultures. There is a square and a park nearby.

Historical Museum of Honduras. Museo Historico de la Republica

This grandiose building was built in the second half of the 19th century. Today, there are entire collections of exhibits that reveal to visitors the secrets of the history of local lands: from the Mayan tribes to the times civil war. In addition to an extensive exposition on the history of the state, there is a small library here.

Morazan Square. Plaza Morazan

This is the main square in the city - a place where friends and romantic couples meet, business meetings are held. The area is equipped in honor of the first president of Honduras - Francisco Morazana, whose monument flaunts in the middle of the square. In 1830, Francisco Morazan declared the independence of Honduras and directed the country towards restoration and reform.

Pedestrian street Peatonal. Calle Peatonal.

Pedestrian street Peatonal - something like our Arbat or Khreshchatyk in Kyiv. Everyone walks here, there are many cafes and shops, street vendors and musicians. During the holidays, various events and festivals are held. Nothing special, but interesting to watch the locals.

Parque la Leona

This Observation deck, from here you can see the whole city, all its quarters. It is located a little away from the center, on a hill. From here you have wonderful views. If you decide to go here for sunset, it's better to take a taxi, it's not safe to walk in the evening.

Tegucigalpa is a very colorful and sometimes dangerous city, here you can admire the churches and breathe the fresh mountain air, wander through the dirty streets, go to the market and eat cheap food or sit in the church and feel its antiquity and antiquity. The city has its own and only its own unique atmosphere, it lives its own life, such as it is.

Reference

I would not recommend walking to remote areas of the city on your own. If you travel at night, it is better to use a taxi.
When going to the markets of Tegucigalpa, carry small denomination banknotes with you to make it easier to pay merchants. Don't take a lot of money with you.
Negotiate the cost of a taxi ride in advance
Do not shine with photo and video equipment, after photographing, immediately put everything in a bag or backpack. It's the same with money.

First mention City with Center height Population Timezone Official site

To the north of Morazán Square are the old suburbs, which were once the area of residence of wealthy emigrants. The hillsides of Cerro el Picacho are literally dotted with old buildings, reminiscent of the colonial past of the capital. In the Parque de las Naciones Unidas, the youngest monument of the capital rises - the massive monument of Cristo del Picacho (1997), from the foot of which a breathtaking panorama of the city and its surroundings opens. To the east of the center begins a respectable area called Colonia Palmyra, where most of the foreign embassies, luxury hotels and rich residences of the capital are concentrated. In the east of the capital is Morazan Boulevard - the entertainment center of Tegucigalpa. It is also often referred to as La Zona Viva. The boulevard borders on the main stadium of the country - Estado Nacional.

The La Paz monument, visible south of the stadium, was built to commemorate the end of the 1969 "football war" in which about two thousand people died. Noteworthy is the Museum of Military History in Valle Park - a private collection of items from pre-Columbian cultures of America - Sala Bancatlan (open from 9.00 to 15.00) on Miraflores Boulevard, the Museum of Natural History in the complex of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) with an extensive exposition of various ecosystems of the country.

The main market of the capital - San Isidro, stretches between the 6th avenida and Calle Uno from the Puente Carias river bridge.

Administration

Transport

Airport

Airport "Toncontin"

On May 30, 2008, a plane crash occurred at the airport, as a result of which a TACA airline plane slid off the runway and crashed into the embankment, destroying several cars. The crash killed 5 and injured 65 people. Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has announced that within a few years all commercial flights will operate through Palmerola Airport.

Notable residents

Manuel de Adalide y Gamero - composer, conductor and teacher

twin cities

Madrid, Spain
Lima, Peru
Taipei, Taiwan
Bogota, Colombia
Belo Horizonte (port. Belo Horizonte), Brazil
New Orleans , USA
Guadalajara, Mexico
Guatemala, Guatemala
Kansas City , USA

Notes

Links

The capital of Honduras, Tegucigalpa, is one of the largest cities in Central America, which is increasingly attracting tourists from all over the world. The city is located in the valley of the Choluteca River and on the slopes of Mount El Picacho. Even the name Tegucigalpa in the Nahuatl Indian language means "silver hills".

Tegucigalpa is famous not only for its rich recreational resources, but also for its mild climate and fresh air. The city is blown by refreshing mountain winds and brings long-awaited coolness to residents and guests of the capital. Here you can walk for a long time through the narrow streets, which sometimes seem just endless, and observe a rather interesting picture: sights from the world of the ancient Mayan civilizations are in harmony with modern glass high-rise buildings.

The visiting card of the capital of Honduras is the Church of Iglesia de San Francisco. Built in the middle of the 18th century, it still retains its majestic appearance and interior in a traditional Spanish style.

Church of Iglesia de San Francisco.

No less famous is the San Miguel Cathedral, which, thanks to its gilded altar and carved stone cross, is an object of pilgrimage for tourists.

Cathedral of San Miguel.

Antigua Paraninfo-Universitaria used to be one of the most prestigious educational institutions Latin America. But later it was decided to place an art museum in this building.

Monument to Francisco Morazan.

The central place in the capital of Honduras is occupied by Morazan Square, on which there is an equestrian monument to the national hero, General Francisco Morazan.

Tegucigalpa has many interesting museums, among which the National Museum, the Mint, the Museum of the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Honduras can be noted.