Exploring Comayagua, Honduras

Nov 8, 2010
James Nalley

The Cathedral at the Parque Central in Comayagua - J.Betancourt

With two of the country's best museums and a collection of beautiful churches, the city of Comayagua is a must-see destination in Honduras.

The city of Comayagua, 51 miles northwest of Tegucigalpa, is the capital of the Comayagua department in Honduras. Located on the main highway from Tegucigalpa to San Pedro Sula, the city of less than 100,000 people is known for its wealth of Spanish Colonial architecture and two of the country's best museums. All of its attractions (including some of the best churches in the country) are within walking distance of the Parque Central and visitors can view what the city has to offer in less than one day.

Founded in 1537 by Spanish conquistadors as Santa María de Comayagua, it eventually served as one of the last strongholds of resistance by the Lenca people against the Spanish two years later. From 1540 to 1820, it served as the capital under many different overall titles including the Honduras Province, the Intendencia de Comayagua, the Province of Comayagua, and the state of Honduras. After Honduras' independence from Spain in 1821, the capital alternated between Comayagua and Tegucigalpa (Comayagua being the preference of the Conservatives and Tegucigalpa by the Liberals) before being permanently established at Tegucigalpa in 1880.

After more than one hundred years of decline, the city of Comayagua was declared a national monument in 1972 and continues to focus on preserving its Spanish Colonial character, which is supported by the Cooperation Técnica Española and the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History. Today, Comayagua has become a must-see destination for any visitor near the city of Tegucigalpa.

Exploring Comayagua, Honduras

Parque Central - Like many other Spanish Colonial cities in Central America, the lively main square serves as a point of reference for the city. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, it is a popular place for outdoor concerts and holiday festivities or simply just a great place for friends to sit and chat. Located in front of the Parque Central is the 16th-century neo-classic City Hall and the city's main attraction, the Catedral de Comayagua.

Museo de Antropología - Located at Calle 6 NE at Avenida 2 de Julio, the museum is housed in the country's former presidential palace and consists of one of the best collections of Lenca culture. It includes many artifacts that range from ancient ceramics and paintings to fossils and jade ornamentation. The small on-site cafeteria provides visitors with breakfast and lunch. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Museo Colonial - Located at Avenida 2 de Julio between Calles 3 and 4, the museum offers a substantial collection of 15th- to 18th-century paintings, sculptures, and jewelry from a number of local churches. Two important items within the collection includes a Christ sculpture with violet-colored eyes that are said to reawaken lost dreams when stared at, and the chair used by Pope John Paul II when he visited Tegucigalpa. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays.

Exploring the Churches of Comayagua, Honduras

Catedral de Santa María - Located at the Parque Central, it is the largest church constructed during the colonial period. Completed on December 8, 1711, it consists of a highly decorative interior with four hand-carved wooden altars covered in gold. Two attractions worth seeing include: the clock in the tower that was donated by Phillip II of Spain more than 800 years ago, and the statue of Santa Ana (the mother of the Virgin Mary), who is carrying Santa María, who is holding an infant Jesús.

Iglesia La Merced - Built in 1542, it is on record as the first church built in Honduras and one of the oldest in Central America. Located at Calle 1 at Avenida 2 NE, it is worth a visit to view the highly decorative and beautiful main altar.

Iglesia de la Caridad - Located at Calle 7 NO at Avenida 3 NO at the north end of the city, it includes the only remaining open-air chapel in Honduras and historically served as a chapel for the conversion of indigenous tribes. The main attraction of the church is the well-known statue of El Señor de la Burrita (Lord of the Burro), which is honored on Palm Sundays.

Iglesia San Francisco - Built in 1560, it is located three blocks southeast of the Iglesia de la Caridad at Avenida 2 de Julio at Calle 7 NE. The bell in the tower dates back to 1460, and it is noted as the oldest in Central America. The main altar consists of highly decorative and hand-carved artwork from the 18th-century.

Comayagua is located within an hour from the capital city of Tegucigalpa and has become an important tourist destination due to its Spanish Colonial architecture. With most of its attractions conveniently located within walking distance from the Parque Central, visitors can view all of its attractions in less than one day and learn about its vital role in the country's historic past.