Chichicastenango, Indigenous ceremonial center in Quiché Department, Guatemala.
The central plaza of Chichicastenango contains the Santo Tomás Church, constructed on an ancient Maya temple platform at 2075 meters elevation.
The Santo Tomás Church holds the distinction of being the location where Father Francisco Ximénez discovered the Popol Vuh, a sacred Maya text.
Local shamans perform traditional ceremonies on the church steps, burning incense and spreading flower petals in a fusion of Maya and Catholic practices.
The central market operates every Thursday and Sunday, filling the streets with vendors selling textiles, masks, pottery, and agricultural products.
The town cemetery features color-coded tombs that represent family lineages, with each section painted in specific hues according to Maya traditions.
Location: Quiché Department
Inception: 1872
Elevation above the sea: 2,075 m
Shares border with: Totonicapán, Santa Cruz del Quiché, Chiché, Chinique, Tecpán Guatemala, Sololá, Patzité, Concepción
Website: http://inforpressca.com/chichicastenango
GPS coordinates: 14.94421,-91.11053
Latest update: May 27, 2025 08:54
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