SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LAS CASAS TODAY.
San Cristóbal de Las Casas, located in the physiographic region of Los Altos de
Chiapas, is situated at an altitude of 2,113 meters above sea level, with a humid-temperate climate.
Los Altos de Chiapas 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 ecological reserves, which include: Cerro del Huitepec, Rancho Nuevo, the Kisst Mountain Wetlands and María Eugenia Mountain Wetlands. Recently the Gertrude Duby Ecological Reserve, Moxviquil Reserve, Arcotete Eco-Tourist Park and Cuevas del Mamut were added.
Los Altos de Chiapas 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 ecological reserves, which include: Cerro del Huitepec, Rancho Nuevo, the Kisst Mountain Wetlands and María Eugenia Mountain Wetlands. Recently the Gertrude Duby Ecological Reserve, Moxviquil Reserve, Arcotete Eco-Tourist Park and Cuevas del Mamut were added.
In terms of its fauna alone, the municipality is home to 368 registered species of wildlife. The most common are: Ocotera Snake, Cold weather naucaya snake, picamadero ocotero, pintail hawk, wild boar, flying squirrel, bat, white-back skunk, wild deer, cantil, boa, false nauyaca, rock iguana, river iguana, olive chachalaca, roadrunners, striped owl , white-tailed hawk, weasel, copetona magpie, striped skunk, spotted skunk and opossum. For example, living within the municipality is a species said to be unique in the world, the “popoyote” (scientific name: Profundulus hildebrandi Miller 1955).
Within
the City of San Cristóbal, among the many important tourist attractions are
several historic monuments and buildings dating back to the time of the city’s
founding by Captain Diego Mazariegos, such his house known as "La Casa de las Sirenas" (mermaid's house),
which today serves as a hotel. Also of
interest to tourists are the many temples, cathedrals and churches with their
Baroque architecture.
Among the most outstanding are: Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, La Catedral de la Paz, Templo del Calvario, Templo de La Merced, Templo de Santa Lucía, Templo de San Cristóbal Mártir, San Nicolás, Caridad, San Francisco de Asís and Templo de San Diego. |
Photos: Mónica Solórzano Gil
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Bicentennial School of Law likewise, a series of infrastructural edifices, built on a par with the temples, are now significant for the historical identity of the “coletos,” (Gentilic for those born in San Cristobal de Las Casas). These include: the Palacio Municipal (City Hall), the El Carmen arch (the Moorish arch that marked the former entryway to San Cristóbal de Las Casas), the former convents of La Merced, Santo Domingo and El Carmen, the "Bicentenaria Escuela de Derecho" (Bicentennial School of Law), the "Casa de La Enseñanza", the "José Castillo Tiélmans Market", etc..
The
art of San Cristóbal de Las Casas can be viewed on different sites that make up
part of the story of the styles, customs and identity of the people of the city. Among them is the Museum of Los Altos de
Chiapas (re-opened in October 2012 by the President of the Republic of Mexico).
It principally exhibits pieces of the
Jesuit and Dominican Orders who, together with the Mercedarios friars
established the first convents after the arrival of the Spaniards. Two of its rooms exhibit the Pellizzi Textiles
Collection. The Oaxaca Room was also
recently inaugurated. The Museo y Casa
Na Bólom (Museum and House of the Jaguar) houses one of the most important
archives of the Lacandon Jungle, which Na Bólom’s founders, Frans Blom and his
wife, created during their years of exploring and protecting this great “lung”
of Mexico.
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The Amber Museum of Chiapas, formerly La Merced Convent, shows the works
of artisans of this mineral, which is mined in the town of Simojovel, Chiapas. The artisans’ work is internationally famous
and an annual convention in San Cristóbal permits the artisans of Chiapas to
display and sell their works of art.
Other important museums are the Museo del Jade and the Museo del Cacao. Taken together, the great Temples preserve
artistic treasures such as religious
works.
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Many
artisans of Los Altos de Chiapas sell their work on the streets and plazas of
San Cristóbal de Las Casas where visitors can find an ample variety of
traditional textiles and ceramics, handmade in their communities. San Cristóbal is a center unique in the world;
it brings together the many vibrant cultures of the peoples living in the
region.
Artisans selling their products in public markets. Photos: Mónica Solórzano Gil
Because
of its rich variety of customs and styles, the life of San Cristóbal is like an
axis or hub of activity where each of the city’s sixteen "Barrios" [neighborhoods] has its own festivals, to the beat of the Marimba Chiapaneca and
constitute a religious manifestation of the ancient inhabitants, have inherited and preserve the traditions and
legends of the various saints to whom several Traditional neighborhoods owe their names. Other "Barrios" or neighborhoods are the original settlements of
the first Spanish settlers and those are: Mexicanos, Tlaxcala, San Antonio, El Cerrillo, Cuxtitali, Guadalupe, Santa Lucía, San Diego, San Ramón, La Merced, etc.
In the neighborhoods of San Cristóbal, visitors can experience the conviviality of the indigenous peoples, the “ladinos” (who are not indigenous to the region) and the many visitors from around the world, most of whom are principally involved in commerce. They comprise a multicultural mosaic based on respect within a framework of civility.
In the neighborhoods of San Cristóbal, visitors can experience the conviviality of the indigenous peoples, the “ladinos” (who are not indigenous to the region) and the many visitors from around the world, most of whom are principally involved in commerce. They comprise a multicultural mosaic based on respect within a framework of civility.
Of
special interest in terms of its gastronomic attractions, are a wide variety of
traditional sweets and candies: chimbos (bread soaked in syrup) crystallized fruits, honeyed fruits, egg yolk
candies, Cajeta (milk caramel), Turrones, Camote, peanut candies, Mistela (a local licor),
Ponches and several varieties of tamales such as the traditional de Bola and de
Huntado tamales different from the ones made in other regions of Mexico.
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One
can also find a variety of outstanding dishes such as “Cochito” (oven-cooked
pork) and “Sopa de Pan [Bread Soup].” Many sausages and cold meats arrived with the
Spanish explorers and settlers, and today they are made by skilled artisans
from the highest-quality ingredients and with unique flavors.
Worth mentioning that all of this have allowed the city of San Cristóbal de Las Casas be designated as “Magic town", from a federal program to preserve some of the most beautifull cities in the country. Because of this, the Municipal Government has developed and it is implementing the "Magic neighborhoods Program" to foster a consciousness among citizens and visitors about the importance of the conservation, preservation and maintenance of the city’s beautiful public spaces.
Worth mentioning that all of this have allowed the city of San Cristóbal de Las Casas be designated as “Magic town", from a federal program to preserve some of the most beautifull cities in the country. Because of this, the Municipal Government has developed and it is implementing the "Magic neighborhoods Program" to foster a consciousness among citizens and visitors about the importance of the conservation, preservation and maintenance of the city’s beautiful public spaces.
Certainly
San Cristóbal is the most important place in Chiapas on account of its cultural
development and attractiveness to tourists based on the intangible cultural
benefits provided by the indigenous peoples of Los Altos de Chiapas.
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The Portals and a view of the pedestrian street
Photos: Mónica Solórzano Gil |
Therefore, it has become a tourist destination for all those who visit Chiapas. In addition, it is a center for conventions, international summits and the headquarters of several Non-Governmental Organizations such as the International Academy, which investigates social phenomena and indigenous relations.
Today, 485 years since its founding, San Cristóbal de Las Casas intends to foster these relations and to participate, through inter-institutional agreements, in the development of other distant towns for mutual benefits and cultural exchanges, academic and socio-economic. We are convinced that unity and cooperation are the motors of sustainable development, which is now a global priority.
San Cristobal de Las Casas is twinned with other cities around the world who share a close relationship and exchange of experiences. The twin cities are:
Today, 485 years since its founding, San Cristóbal de Las Casas intends to foster these relations and to participate, through inter-institutional agreements, in the development of other distant towns for mutual benefits and cultural exchanges, academic and socio-economic. We are convinced that unity and cooperation are the motors of sustainable development, which is now a global priority.
San Cristobal de Las Casas is twinned with other cities around the world who share a close relationship and exchange of experiences. The twin cities are:
- Ciudad Real, Spain
- Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, México
- Asheville, North Carolina, United States
- Quetzaltenango, Department of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
- Imperial Ciudad de Cobán, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.
- San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, México
- Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México
- Comitán De Domínguez, Chiapas, México
- Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, México