San Cristóbal de las Casas
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| San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas |
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| Nickname: ""Jovel" or "Hueyzacatlán"" | |
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| State | Chiapas |
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| Presidente municipal | Sergio Lobato García |
| Area | |
| - City | km² |
| - Urban | 484,00 km² km² |
| Population | |
| - City (2003) | 132,421 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-6) |
| Website: [ ] | |
San Cristóbal de las Casas is a city in the central highlands of the state of Chiapas, Mexico. It is located in the Sierra Madre Mountains at , elevation 2100m. The city was named after Bartolomé de Las Casas, a Spanish priest who defended the rights of the Native Americans and was the first bishop of Chiapas. In 2003, the estimated population was 121,100 people.
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[edit] History
[edit] Settlement and Name
For thousands of years, the ancient Maya, ancestors of the Tzotziles and Tzelatles, have continuously lived in settlements in the general area of the modern city of San Cristobal. Scholars believe that the Maya initially migrated from the lowlands and settled in the highlands only after the collapse of the "Classic" Maya civilization.
In 1528, the Spanish conquistador, Diego de Mazariegos established the settlement of "Villareal de Chiapa de los Españoles" as a regional base after defeating the Zoques and Chiapanecos in fierce fighting. The settlement became the capital of the province of Chiapas. On March 1, 1535, the Spanish crown bestowed the settlement with un escudo de armas and renamed the city, "San Cristóbal de los Llanos" after its patron saint, St. Christopher. The settlement was given the title of city on July 7, 1536, and once again renamed to "Ciudad Real de Chiapa". By 1577, the city selected don Juan de Meza as its first mayor.
The city's name underwent frequent modifications. On July 27, 1829 the city became "Ciudad de San Cristóbal" and it was on May 31, 1848 that they city became know as "San Cristóbal de Las Casas", in honor of Bartolomé de Las Casas. On February 13, 1934, the city became "Ciudad Las Casas", but this was officially revereted back to "San Cristóbal de Las Casas" on November 4, 1943 by Dr. Rafael Pascacio Gamboa. Despite the various name changes that the city has undergone, the local people continue to call the city by its traditional name, Jovel. (During the colonial period, the city was also known as "el Mote de la Chiapa de los Españoles" and until a few decades ago, it was also known as "Hueyzacatlán".) The chiapanecos also refer to the city as "Sancris".
[edit] Zapatista Conflict
In 1994 the Zapatista Army of National Liberation used San Cristobal as one of the four cities where it began its revolution. Now, ten years later, the traces of the Zapatistas are still omnipresent (e.g., graffiti, dolls, posters, t-shirts) in the city. The Zapatistas fight is over control of ejido (communal) lands, natural resources, and other NAFTA policies. The group's name "Zapatista" comes from the name of the revolutionary (Zapata). The indigineous highland Maya of Chiapas feel the Mexican Revolution never reached them for varieties of reasons.
[edit] Demographics
The city is located near the Tzotzil Maya communities of Chamula, and Zinacantán, and a half-day bus ride from the Classic Maya ruins of Palenque, and is therefore a popular base of operations for European and US tourists looking to experience ancient and modern Maya culture.
[edit] Religion
The city had nearly 300 Muslims in 2000, but is still almost completely Catholic. Like many isolated areas with high indigenous populations, the Catholic faith is often mixed with many native beliefs.
[edit] Other
[edit] Photographs
 Catedral |
 Panoramic View |
 Mirador |
 Santo Domingo Church |
 San Cristobal Church |
