By Sandra Petersen
The terrain of the Chimaltenango area of Guatemala is rugged with valleys, ridges, and plains marking the surface. The Sierra Madre Mountains as well as the Pan American Highway (CA-1) pass through this region.
Geography
The city of Chimaltenango is found in Guatemala's department of the same name. The Department of Chimaltenango is located in the central highland region, west of Guatemala City, the nation's capitol.
History
The original residents of the land, the Kaqchikel, settled this region as early as the 15th century. The city of Chimaltenango dates back to 1526. The Spanish conquered and colonized the land during the 16th century.
Foods
Staples in the diet of the area's residents include freshly made corn tortillas, corn meal and beans. Farm produce like tomatoes, chicken, pork and eggs are sold in the town market.
Fun Fact
Two of the main events in the region are the feast and activities held in honor of Nuestra Senora Santa Ana and the Corpus Christi festival in Patzun.
Important Sites
The ancient Mayan capitol city of Iximche is an archaeological site with remains from the Mayan culture. The city of Comalapa is a center for primitive Mayan and Indian painting. Santa Apolonia is where tourists may find ceramics.
Resources
About the Author:
For almost four years, Sandra Petersen has written fiction stories and non-fiction articles for sites like FaithWriters, Associated Content, Helium, Textbroker, and Triond as well as Demand Studios. Petersen attended the University of Wisconsin-Superior and earned her Bachelor's degree in elementary education with a minor in music education.
