GUATEMALA CITY

Spanish Ciudad De Guatemala, capital of Guatemala, the largest city in Central America, and the political, social, cultural, and economic centre of Guatemala. Lying in a valley of the central highlands at an elevation of 4,897 feet (1,493 m) above sea level, it has a temperate and invigorating mountain climate. Guatemala City was founded in 1776 to replace Antigua Guatemala, which had been virtually destroyed by an earthquake in 1773, as the capital of the captaincy general of Guatemala. After independence from Spain was declared in 1821, Guatemala City served successively as the capital of the province of Central America under the Mexican Empire of Agustn de Iturbide (182223), the Central American Federation (182333), the state, and, finally, the independent Republic of Guatemala. Distrust of the city in other areas of Central America and the prevalence of open fighting in the city's streets and public buildings was a factor in the demise of the federation and in the failure of subsequent attempts to revive it. When Quezaltenango, which had become the capital of Guatemala in all but name, was destroyed by an earthquake in 1902, many of the leading families moved to Guatemala City. The modern city was largely rebuilt after the disastrous earthquakes of 191718, which shook the city intermittently for six weeks. The characteristic appearance created by low, massive structures has been modified somewhat by the erection of steel and concrete multistoried hotels and office and apartment buildings of modern design. Elegant residential districts have grown up on the borders of the old city, particularly toward the south, and low-cost housing units have been constructed in various parts of the urban area. In addition to the governmental offices and services concentrated there, Guatemala City handles nearly half of the capital invested in the country and accounts for more than half of the industrial establishments and production of the republic. It is the focus of highway, rail, and air transport and is the commercial and banking centre of the country. Guatemala City also dominates the cultural life of the country. It is the seat of the principal faculties of the San Carlos University of Guatemala (established 1676); the major institutions for artistic, commercial, vocational, and military education; the Society of Geography and History; and several important museums. Public buildings of note include the National Palace, the post office, police headquarters, the National Archives, the National Archaeological Museum (with its rare collection of Mayan artifacts), the National Library, and the modern cluster of buildings around the new city hall. Among the major religious structures are the cathedral (1815) and the churches of San Francisco, Santo Domingo (famous throughout Central America for its Holy Week procession), and La Merced (colonial but rebuilt after 1917). Other points of interest include the remarkable concrete relief map of the nation in Minerva Park, the archaeological and historical museums, the colonial aqueduct, the central market, and Olympic City, built for the Central American Olympic Games of 1950. In the environs of Guatemala City are the villages of Chinautla, famous for hand-formed pottery, Mixco, which supplies the capital with fruits and vegetables, and the Indian towns of San Pedro and San Juan Sacatepquez, all of which suffered extensive damage in the earthquake of 1976. Pop. (1989 est.) mun., 1,057,210. Cultural life Daily life The nation's society is marked by pronounced extremes in the conduct of daily life. In the capital city families live much as they do in the cosmopolitan centres of Europe, whereas within an hour's drive of the capital are Indians whose patterns of daily life remain those of past centuries. The pattern of culture is characterized by sharp contrasts, whether it be in the language spoken or in matters pertaining to the household, cuisine, attire, or family affairs. The nation's populace is increasingly exposed to the intrusion of foreign influences upon their way of life. All aspects of communicationperiodical news, the comics, soap operas, filmare primarily of foreign origin. A multitude of products, from soaps and boxed cereals to automobiles and bottled drinks, bear foreign brand names. The arts The evidence of Mayan culture pervades the country. Today, although native crafts involve a variety of forms of expression, they are best represented in colourful handwoven textiles. Traditional dances, music, and religious rites that have survived in the Amerindian regions are important tourist attractions. The art of the colonial period is chiefly represented in the architecture and decor of Roman Catholic churches. For the most part, the recognition of modern painters, composers, and authors tends to be limited to within the nation. A major exception is the author Miguel Angel Asturias, a poet and novelist who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1967. As with Asturias' writings, expressions of the various art forms tend to focus upon the Amerindian heritage of the nation.