Historia del Municipio de Iztapa

En 1527, Iztapa era ya conocida por los espaoles, pues en esa fecha Don Pedro de
Alvarado construy all tres naves para la expedicin al Per, atrado por supuesto por las
fabulosas riquezas de los Incas. En 1534, Alvarado construy otra flota, de tres naves, esta
vez convirtiendo al Puerto de Iztapa en el primer astillero naval de Centro Amrica. En
1590 contando con la real aprobacin, se iniciaron trabajos formales para habilitar el Puerto
de Iztapa y se autoriz la comercializacin con el lejano Oriente, bajo la supervisin de
don Pedro de Mellen de Rueda, Presidente de la Real Audiencia.
El 15 de marzo de 1833, la Asamblea facult al gobierno la inversin de seis mil pesos
(moneda nacional) para el establecimiento de la poblacin de Iztapa y por decreto del 30 de
abril de 1834, la misma asamblea dispone que se conceda media caballera de terreno a los
que se avecinen en el lugar y seis caballeras a los que se comprometan a mantener servicio
de carreteras entre Iztapa y Escuintla. Ya con fecha 18 de febrero de 1824 se haba
rehabilitado como Puerto, con el nombre de Puerto Independencia, y todas estas
disposiciones tendan a hacer realidad el funcionamiento del Puerto. Hasta que por decreto
del 12 de marzo de 1852, el puerto fue trasladado al paraje denominado El Zapote
conocido ahora con el nombre de Puerto San Jos; pues los dueos de los convoyes de
carretas se quejaban de lo pantanoso del terreno, lo cual dificultaba el libre trnsito7.
Cultura e Identidad
La cultura y la identidad son componente esencial de la realidad social, ya que las mismas
dan sustento a elementos de carcter subjetivo y objetivo que se evidencian en acciones
sociales y que pueden en determinado momento ser recursos o limitaciones para el
desarrollo. En el municipio de Iztapa se realiza cada ao actividades culturales y
tradiciones; eleccin de reinado de belleza en el mes de septiembre, se acostumbra el 1 de
noviembre adornar las tumbas de los difuntos. Adems se celebra el 15 de septiembre da
de la independencia se realizan desfiles por los diferentes establecimientos educativos con
bandas escolares.
La fiesta titular se celebra del 20 al 24 de Octubre en honor a San Miguel Arcngel, es una
de las actividades ms populares donde se realizan actividades como ventas de comida
tpica, juegos de mesa y mecnicos, conciertos, marimba y bailes.
Lugares sagrados se encuentran dos lugares de carcter sagrado como El Manacal y El
Cerrito, por sus caractersticas de identidad Maya; estos lugares se encuentran en una
finca privada y no estn declarados por ninguna entidad pblica como patrimonio del
pas. Su importancia reside en dos montculos donde se han encontrado con cierta
frecuencia diversas figuras o deidades Mayas y elementos de la cultura precolombina.

La Antigua Guatemala
It was the third seat of the capital of the
kingdom of Guatemala called which included
the current states of Guatemala, Belize, El
Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa
Rica and Chiapas. Following the destruction
by flood of the second site, located in the
Valley of Almolonga, on the slopes of Volcan
de Agua (where he had been taken after
leaving the first settlement in Iximch in 1527)
was built from 1543 in the Valley Panchoy,
and established as head of the Real Audiencia
of Guatemala in 1549.2 During development
and splendor was known as one of the three
most beautiful cities of the Spanish Indies.
The city, whose original name was Santiago
de los Caballeros de Guatemala, competing with cities like Mexico, Puebla de
Zaragoza, Lima, Quito and Potosi. However, the special circumstances of the
earthquakes on July 29, 1773, in the flowering of baroque, cut its natural process
of growth and change. Also, this city exerted considerable influence on the
aesthetics surrounding area and much of Central America, Honduras, El Salvador
and Nicaragua, and Chiapas, to the north. The city is known as the "City of Eternal
Roses" and its inhabitants as "Green bellies".
An important fact for the religious history of Guatemala, is that the August 5, 1717
consecrated the image of Jesus Nazareno de la Merced, in this city (image is now
in the Church of Our Lady of Mercy in the area 1 Guatemala City, Guatemala).
The city was the final resting place of the great Spanish chronicler Bernal Diaz del
Castillo where his remains lie in one of the ruined churches affected by
earthquakes. What was his last residence and other colonial historical sites are
also conserved.
Because of the two severe earthquakes, known as Santa Marta earthquakes that
destroyed much of the city, the president of the Audiencia of Guatemala, Martn de
Mayorga, decided it was appropriate to rebuild the city in a safer place. The New
City New Guatemala of the Assumption, which is now the City of Guatemala, the
present capital of Guatemala located just over 40 kilometers was called.
On February 4, 1976 was rocked by an earthquake measuring 7.5 degrees on the
Richter scale, which destroyed much of the country, and caused some damage to
some buildings in the city like the Palace of the Captains General and the
Cathedral of San again Jos. During colonial times received the title of "the most
beautiful city of the Indies (America)", because of its exquisite architecture.
Esquipulas
Esquipulas a muncipio located in east-central eastern
Guatemala, is part of the department of Chiquimula.
Its municipal seat is the city of Esquipulas, founded
during the Spanish and initially called Santiago de
Esquipulas colony.
In pre-Hispanic times was inhabited by the Maya
Chort, who during the Spanish conquest moved to other nearby muncipios.
Between 1545 and 1560, the town of Santiago de Esquipulas was founded, also
known as Yzquipulas and was until 1821 that the name of Esquipulas and his
appointment as municipality official.
Historically the city is known for being one of the city's most important Catholic
pilgrimage in Latin America because it is the Basilica of Esquipulas, home of the
Black Christ, revered in most of Central America and southern Mexico. It also has
other churches of great importance for devout Catholics as James Parish, Church
of Bethlehem Convent and the Church of the Holy Cruz.
The Payaqu was the culture that believes that developed in this county during the
pre-Hispanic era, although this has not been proven, according to Juan Perez
Dardn founder of the town of Yzquipulas, slaves of origin Maya chort and Maya
Payaqu were brought other regions of the Province of Sierra Chiquimula.
According stelae and jerogrficos found in Copan and Quirigua, was the priest
Topiltzin Axcitl or Nacxit the founder of this kingdom. The origin of this kingdom is
in deep mystery of culture maya.2
It is believed that this culture came to this county from Copan, Honduras, this
culture did not leave a trail, why not check it really inhabited this municipio.3 4
Therefore some historians state of origin and founded by Spanish.
In 1525 Juan Perez Dardn, Sancho de Barahona and Bartolom Becerra captains
under the command of Pedro de Alvarado conquered the province of Chiquimula
de la Sierra. In 1526 the province was under Spanish control, which facilitated the
entry of conquistadores.5 Between 1550 and 1560 the town was founded by Juan
Prez of Yzquipulas Dardn as the second most important site Chiquimula trade.
In 1552 a road that connected the town of Yzquipulas Chiquimula the villa was
built, was 63 miles long and 4 meters wide. As part of the dotrina brought by the
Spanish conquerors, the Catholic religion was imposed on all resident of this town.
A chapel and a convent was built on a hill near the village, in addition thereto a
delegation that was in charge of Spanish troops, which had 5 caones.6 For early
eighteenth century was one of the Spanish communities built more numerous,
according to the book of baptisms with a population of 198 people. A century later,
the Spanish community population stood at 851, representing 30% of this total
community Chiquimula department. The population increase was due to the
attraction that caused the fertility of the valleys of this county.
XELAJU
What is now the housing settlement of
Quetzaltenango, dates back to many
centuries before the Castilian conquest
in ancient times there was a great lake
that covered part of what is now the
historic center of the city, around the
Quarter Swamp and Municipalities of
Salcaj and Totonicapan. The
quetzalteco scientist Dr. Manuel Serrano Munoz, he studied the microscopic algae
Cienaga, and found that it was actually a lake, leaving few traces as many water
sources, fishes, crabs, snails, plants and other specimens of aquatic life.
POPULATION SETTLEMENT INDIAN TERRITORY MAM:
The valley of Quetzaltenango and Palajunoj many centuries before the conquest,
found in the titles of the House IXQUIN Nehaib. Lady Otzay Territory, indicates
that it was a head Capul (meeting concabulo) known as NIMA AMAC: A large
village MAMES MAIN, occupying large area of the western territory of Guatemala,
as the seat of its great fortification in present is the departmental head of
Huehuetenango, with its archaeological site Zaculeu shows the MAM manor
ethnicity. KULAJ was called under the throat which means water, in what is now
Quetzaltenango. The chief means MAMES LAHUJ Queh Ten deer, and is the
name of one of the days of their calendar was called.
TO CONQUER THE QUICHES MAMES:
In 1300 the leaders of the Confederation QUICH, NIAJIB And KAVECK conquer
the MAMES with a large army, subjecting them cruelly, executing and taking their
women for himself, giving both the allegiance of the conquered, and the birth
obviously a FIRST mESTIZAJE in the region. MAMES forced many to migrate
throughout the West, reaching territory of Soconusco, Chiapas Mexico today. The
capital of the powerful kingdom Kiche Gumarkaj is located in what is today the
head of the Quich Department, there had their dominion and stone pyramids, that
the arrival of the Spaniards used the material to build the church especially.
By taking possession of the new territory kichs, who appointed KULAJA Mam,
what rebautizan as XELAJU. And Xelahuh XELAHUJ Queh, or the 10th in your
calendar, so says Don Adrin Recinos. CHI lahum QUIEH in the actual title of Don
Francisco Izqum. Location of the 10 deer. Castilianized name: XELAJU.
Castillo de San Felipe (Ferrol)

The Castle of San Felipe was one of the
military strengths of Ferrol. It is located in
the town of Ferrol, La Corua province,
autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.
It was built in the sixteenth century.
In front of the castle, on the river, the
castle of La Palma and the castle of San
Martin (which can hardly be seen ruins
today), both in the town of Mugardos is. Between Castel San Martin and San
Felipe castle a thick chain in the sea that prevented the entry of enemy ships at
Ferrol tended.
In 1557 the construction of the castle hosted by Felipe II, from which it takes its
name, and is between the years 1731 and 1755 is started when the engineer
Montaigu Francisco will design a series of reforms among which the construction of
a hornabeque, the moat and the draft from the front door. Its design is based on
the technical teachings of Vauban and uneven ground.
Based on the ideas of Vauban form is given, so the shipping channel entrance, as
the terrain and in it we can see a fairly regular geometry, with hornabeque as its
core, had a plant in arrowhead, heading towards the sea a double line of fire
organized on two floors; and projecting toward its ground against a large
hornabeque. One shortcoming of this rampart which was dominated by the
surrounding heights partly what made him vulnerable to a land attack.
Tikal National Park
The Tikal National Park is located in the
department of Petn, in northern Guatemala. Its
coordinates are 17 13'N 89 37'O17 .217, 89
617.
It has 57,583 ha, and was created on May 26,
1955. In 1979 he was declared a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO, both for their
natural values and cultural. Since 1990 is part
of the global network of biosphere reserves within the Maya Biosphere Reserve.
The main tourist attraction of the park is the ancient Mayan city of Tikal, surrounded by
jungle.
The park sits on limestone terrain, so that surface water is scarce. The climate is humid
tropical. Throughout the year a dry and a rainy season occur. Annual rainfall varies
between 1000 and 2400 mm. Temperatures range between 28 and 35 C, and the minimum
between 15 and 22 C.
The park is covered by umbrfila primary forest, with a canopy that rises to fifty yards. The
most abundant trees are the ceiba (Ceiba pentandra) the sacred tree of the Maya, the
American cedar (Cedrela odorata), sapodilla (Manilkara zapota), Honduran mahogany
(Swietenia macrophylla), rosewood (Tabebuia rosea) ramon (Brosimum alicastrum), the ant
(Platymiscium dimorphandrum), the tree Santa Maria (Calophyllum brasiliense), the
yarumo (Cecropia peltata), copal (Cupania belizensis), the cojn (Stemmadenia donnell-
smithii), palm broom (Cryosophila argentea) and pepper (Pimenta dioica).
Still have not made a detailed inventory of the fauna park.
Among the mammals that inhabit the park include the gray fox (Urocyon
cinereoargenteus), the jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), jaguarundi (Felis
yaguarondi), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii) the common paca
(Agouti paca), the Mexican anteater (Tamandua mexicanus), the kinkajou (Potos flavus),
northern raccoon (Procyon lotor), Eira (Eira barbara), the red brocket (Mazama americana)
and Northern tapir (Tapirus bairdii); can also be found agoutis (Dasyprocta), coatis
(Nasua), spider monkeys (Ateles), howler monkeys (Alouatta), peccaries (Tayassuidae),
armadillos (Dasypodidae), bats (Microchiroptera) ...
There is a great diversity of birds. Include the harpy eagle (Harpy Eagle), the ocellated
turkey (Meleagris ocellata), the pechirrojo falcon (Falco deiroleucus), speckled quail
(Odontophorus guttatus), the conoto Moctezuma (Psarocolius montezuma), American
darter (Anhinga anhinga) the Central American Jacana (Jacana spinosa), the ram bucket
(cochlearius cochlearius), the carrao (limpkin), Mexican avetigre (Tigrisoma mexicanum),
the hooded parrot (Pionopsitta haematotis), senile parrot (Pionus senilis), the Amazon
frentialba (Amazona albifrons), the frentirroja Amazon (Amazona autumnalis), the Burrona
Amazon (Amazona farinosa) and pechisucio parakeet (Aratinga nana), and various species
of hummingbirds (Trochilidae), toucans (Ramphastidae), woodpeckers (Picidae) momotos
(Momotidae) and cracids.
The herpetofauna is also very diverse, with 19 species of frogs, five turtles, 24 lizards, such
as the green iguana (Iguana iguana), 41 snakes, a salamander and two crocodiles: the
American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and Morelet's crocodile (Morelet's crocodile).
There are several poisonous snakes, coral snake (Micrurus altirostris), the Central
American rattlesnake (Crotalus simus) and the stone hand snakes (Atropoides nummifer)
CHATILLA Jungle (Porthidium nasutum), and especially the yellow beard or velvet
(Bothrops asper).
Among insects abound leafcutter ants. Also found in the park machaca (laternaria Fulgora),
the Hercules beetle (hercules Dynastes) and many other species.

Himno nacional

Guatemala feliz...! que tus aras

no profane jams el verdugo;
ni haya esclavos que laman el yugo
ni tiranos que escupan tu faz.
Si maana tu suelo sagrado
lo amenaza invasin extranjera,
libre al viento tu hermosa bandera
a vencer o a morir llamar.
Coro
Libre al viento tu hermosa bandera
a vencer o a morir llamar;
que tu pueblo con nima fiera
antes muerto que esclavo ser.
De tus viejas y duras cadenas
t forjaste con mano iracunda,
el arado que el suelo fecunda
y la espada que salva el honor.
Nuestros padres lucharon un da
encendidos en patrio ardimiento,
y lograron sin choque sangriento
colocarte en un trono de amor.
Coro
Y lograron sin choque sangriento
colocarte en un trono de amor,
que de patria en enrgico acento
dieron vida al ideal redentor.
Es tu ensea pedazo de cielo
en que prende una nube su albura,
y ay! de aquel que con ciega locura
sus colores pretenda manchar.
Pues tus hijos valientes y altivos,
que veneran la paz cual presea,
nunca esquivan la ruda pelea
si defienden su tierra y su hogar.
Coro
Nunca esquivan la ruda pelea
si defienden su tierra y su hogar,
que es tan slo el honor su alma idea
y el altar de la patria su altar.
Recostada en el Ande soberbio,
de dos mares al ruido sonoro,
bajo el ala de grana y de oro
te adormeces del bello quetzal.
Ave indiana que vive en tu escudo,
paladin que protege tu suelo;
ojal que remonte su vuelo,
ms que el cndor y el guila real!
Coro
Ojal que remonte su vuelo,
ms que el cndor y el guila real!
y en sus alas levante hasta el cielo,
Guatemala, tu nombre inmortal.