1. NAME OF THE CITY
The city is named San Cristóbal de Las Casas.
It is located in Southern Mexico, in the highlands of Chiapas state. The city is situated in the Jovel valley at an altitude of 2,113 meters above sea level and enjoys a humid temperate climate. Los Altos de Chiapas, as the Chiapan highlands are called, is a mountainous region that is heavily forested, principally with pine and oak trees. The great forests of Los Altos support a diverse flora and fauna, especially in its several eco logical reserves.
The first colony, created on 31 March, 1528, by Captain Diego de Mazariegos, was called Villa Real. Later, after many changes, the official name of the settlement became: “San Cristóbal” for the Catholic Saint Christoper, patron saint of travellers, and “de Las Casas” in honor of Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, the first Bishop of the Diocese of this city and a great defender of indigenous rights.
The history of the city goes back before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, what is now the San Cristóbal de Las Casas Valley, was called “hueyzacatlán” (náhuatl word, which means “next to the great grass”), according to the reports of the Spanish explorers and settlers. In the past, there were also many other local names for the region: “tzequil” (skirt) and “jovel” (a grass similar to straw).
It is located in Southern Mexico, in the highlands of Chiapas state. The city is situated in the Jovel valley at an altitude of 2,113 meters above sea level and enjoys a humid temperate climate. Los Altos de Chiapas, as the Chiapan highlands are called, is a mountainous region that is heavily forested, principally with pine and oak trees. The great forests of Los Altos support a diverse flora and fauna, especially in its several eco logical reserves.
The first colony, created on 31 March, 1528, by Captain Diego de Mazariegos, was called Villa Real. Later, after many changes, the official name of the settlement became: “San Cristóbal” for the Catholic Saint Christoper, patron saint of travellers, and “de Las Casas” in honor of Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, the first Bishop of the Diocese of this city and a great defender of indigenous rights.
The history of the city goes back before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, what is now the San Cristóbal de Las Casas Valley, was called “hueyzacatlán” (náhuatl word, which means “next to the great grass”), according to the reports of the Spanish explorers and settlers. In the past, there were also many other local names for the region: “tzequil” (skirt) and “jovel” (a grass similar to straw).