San Marcos, municipality and capital of San Marcos Department, Guatemala
San Marcos is a city in the western highlands of Guatemala and serves as the administrative seat of the department that shares its name. It sits at around 7,860 feet (2,400 meters) above sea level, surrounded by hills and valleys, with simple houses and a few larger public buildings arranged around a central plaza.
The city was founded on April 25, 1533, by the Spanish captain Juan de León Cardona as settlers moved into the region. In 1902, the eruption of the nearby Santa María volcano buried the town under ash and left a permanent mark on the surrounding land.
The town takes its name from Saint Mark the Evangelist, and his feast day on April 25 brings the streets around the central plaza to life with processions and local food. Weavers and potters in the area still work using methods handed down within families, and their pieces can be found in small shops near the market.
The city is far from the capital and is most easily reached by car or local bus, with services stopping at several towns along the way. The air is cool year-round at this altitude, so a light jacket is a good idea, especially in the morning and evening.
The 1902 eruption of Santa María gave rise to a smaller new volcano called Santiaguito, which has been erupting almost continuously ever since and is visible from the area. Santiaguito is considered one of the most persistently active volcanoes in the world, making this corner of Guatemala a reference point for volcanologists.
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