Chiapa de Corzo
| Chiapa de Corzo | ||
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Coordinates: 16 ° 42 ′ N , 93 ° 1 ′ W Chiapa de Corzo on the map of Chiapas
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| Basic data | ||
| Country | Mexico | |
| State | Chiapas | |
| Municipio | Chiapa de Corzo | |
| Residents | 45,077 (2010 census) | |
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| Detailed data | ||
| height | 417 m | |
| Time zone | UTC −6 | |
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Chiapa de Corzo is a city with about 45,000 inhabitants and the main town of the municipality Chiapa de Corzo with about 90,000 inhabitants in the Mexican state of Chiapas ; The ruins of a nearby pre-Hispanic cult center also bears this name. Since 2010, the dances and accompanying music of the Parachicos festival, which has been documented since 1711 and takes place every January, have been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO . The place has also been one of the 'Magical Places' of Mexico since 2012 .
location
Chiapa de Corzo lies at an altitude of about 420 m above sea level. d. M. on the east bank of the Río Grijalva not far from the Cañón del Sumidero . Tuxtla Gutiérrez , the capital of the state of Chiapas, is only about 15 km northwest. The archaeological zone is about 2 km southeast of the city.
Population and economy
The inhabitants of the city are mostly mestizos and pure-bred Indians from the Zoque tribe; The regional dialects are spoken, but also Spanish. A large part of the Indian community population works as small farmers ( self-sufficient ) in agriculture; in the city, on the other hand, trade, crafts and smaller service companies dominate.
history
It is estimated that the area dates back to 1200 BC. Was settled by Olmec or closely related groups; around 800 BC Through the use of obsidian tools and correspondences in the ceramics, a stronger relationship with the Olmec cult center of La Venta can be established. In the year 36 BC The fragment of a stele found in the archaeological site is dated to the oldest known long-count date in Mesoamerica . The old place of worship was abandoned around 700 AD and a new settlement of the Chiapa Indians was built on the site of the present-day city.
This was conquered in 1528 by the Spaniards and Indian auxiliary troops from the surrounding area, led by Diego de Mazariegos, who were enemies with the Chiapas, after violent fighting and renamed Villa Real de Chiapa de los Indios ; the city of San Cristóbal de las Casas , about 70 km (driving distance) further east but a good 1500 m higher, was called Villa Real de Chiapa de los Españoles . From 1552 to the independence of Mexico in 1821, the place was called Pueblo de la Real Corona de Chiapa de Indios or just Chiapa de la Real Corona ; in 1851 he received city rights.
Attractions
- The city's landmark and a unique monument from the colonial era is the La Pila fountain (diameter 52 m, height 12 m) , which was built in 1552 from bricks and with echoes of the Mudejar style of Spain . Because of its unusual shape, reminiscent of a crown, it was also given the popular name La Corona .
- The Iglesia Santo Domingo , built in the second half of the 16th century, is the former monastery church of the Dominican Order . Its facade is flanked by two squat-looking towers with a dome . The three-aisled nave is vaulted; the crossing is spanned by an illuminated dome.
- The former monastery buildings around the unadorned but two-storey cloister house a museum for church art, but also for lacquer work , which has a certain tradition in the region.
- In the staircase of the broad town hall ( palacio municipal ) there are three political wall paintings ( murales ) by the painter Carlos Mérida from the 1920s.
- The imposing ruins of the 17th century Iglesia San Sebastián are located on San Gregorio Hill. Its broad facade is loosened up by two pillars and several niches in which figures used to stand, and stabilized by powerful lateral pillars .
- Nearby is the Iglesia San Calvario, also built in the 17th century but reworked in the 19th century in a neo-Gothic style , with an unusually designed bell gable .
- Surroundings
- To the north of the city is the Parque Nacional del Cañon del Sumidero , whose canyon , which is accessible by boat, is a popular destination for local and foreign tourists.
- From around 850 BC The archaeological zone of Chiapa de Corzo, populated until around 700 AD, is a good 2 km² and is located around 2 km southeast of today's city; it includes the structures of around 200 buildings. In 2010, beneath a temple pyramid (Mound 5) , the grave of a man from around 500 to 700 BC, richly decorated with grave goods , was found. BC - it is the oldest find of its kind in Mesoamerica and is shown in the Museo Regional de Antropología e Historia in Tuxtla Gutiérrez . The long count date on the fragment of a stele (more precisely: a wall plate) could be added to the oldest date of its kind to date (7.16.3.2.13), even if it is still disputed among researchers; the conversion results in December 6th of the year 36 BC. Chr.
Festivals
Apart from the usual religious festivals, the carnival-like Fiesta Grande takes place every year in January , when many dress up as so-called Parachicos and dance to the cyclical sounds of the music groups in the streets. Although the background is different, the masked figures, their dances and the musical accompaniment have many similarities to the Bailes de la Conquista, popular in southeast Mexico and Guatemala .
