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San Salvador

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San Salvador, Capital city in Valle de Las Hamacas, El Salvador

Description

San Salvador is the capital of El Salvador, located in a fertile valley framed by mountains and active volcanoes at around 658 meters altitude. The municipality extends across several districts and shows a mix of residential neighborhoods, commercial buildings, and public squares between the slopes.

History

Pedro de Alvarado founded the settlement in 1525 and moved it to its current location in 1528 after indigenous groups resisted. Several earthquakes in the 20th century led to structural changes and the modernization of many city districts.

Culture

The name comes from Spanish and means 'Holy Savior', a religious reference reflected in many churches and festivals throughout the municipality. Street markets offer pupusas, a stuffed corn flatbread eaten daily here and tied to local identity.

Practical

The climate is tropical with a rainy season from May to October, when brief heavy showers are common. Sturdy footwear is advisable because many sidewalks are uneven and steep streets can make walking tiring.

Did you know?

The San Salvador volcano sits directly west of the municipality and is also known as El Boquerón. Its crater has a diameter of around 1.5 kilometers and is reachable by a road leading to a viewpoint.

Location
Central San Salvador
Inception
April 1, 1525
Elevation above the sea
670 m
Part of
Western El Salvador
GPS coordinates
13.69896,-89.19143
Latest update
December 15, 2025 02:14

AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Central San Salvador).

« San Salvador - Capital city in Valle de Las Hamacas, El Salvador » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

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