Sanitiago Atitlan

antiago Atitlán is a city in Guatemala rich in history and culture. The city lies on the shores of the beautiful Lake Atitlán and is surrounded by impressive volcanoes. The history of Santiago Atitlán goes back a long way, to the time of the Mayan civilization. The Maya had a significant settlement here known as Iximche.

Over the centuries, Santiago Atitlán has been inhabited by various indigenous peoples, including the Kaqchikel Maya. During the Spanish colonial period, the city was conquered by the conquistadors and Christianized. The Catholic church, which still plays an important role in the lives of the residents, was built in the 16th century.

Santiago Atitlán also has a tragic story. During the Guatemalan Civil War (1960-1996), the city was severely affected by violence and oppression. Many residents were killed or disappeared and the community was severely traumatized. Despite this dark past, the people of Santiago Atitlán have preserved their culture and traditions and are now known for their colorful costumes, crafts and spiritual rituals.

Today, Santiago Atitlán is a popular destination for tourists who want to experience the beauty of Lake Atitlán and the unique culture of the indigenous communities. The town offers a variety of activities including boat trips on the lake, visits to local markets and traditional dances. The people of Santiago Atitlán are proud of their history and are happy to welcome visitors and share their rich culture.
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Sunday is market day in Guatemala and I took the opportunity again to go to Santiago Atitlan to do some shopping there because it's much cheaper there than in San Marcos de Laguna where I live and it's a beautiful route with the motorcycle and you are There in about half an hour. I love the colorful hustle and bustle of the market with the many things you can get there, whether new or used, fruits, vegetables, spices or other things that you need in the house. Sanitago is not one for tourists either overcrowded like the other places here on the lake. And in Santiago you can also see the people in traditional clothes. The languages are also different here at the lake. In addition to Spanish, there is also the Mayan language, where I think there are 26. Santiago Atitlán is a city in Guatemala that is inhabited by people , who primarily speak the indigenous Kaqchikel language. Kaqchikel is one of the Mayan languages and belongs to the large family of Mayan languages spoken in various regions of Guatemala and other parts of Central America.
It is important to note that Spanish is also spoken in Santiago Atitlán, as it is the official language of Guatemala and is used by many people in daily life. In multicultural communities like Santiago Atitlán, there can be a variety of languages spoken by different groups.
It seems that there is a confusion regarding the term "Department". "Department" is usually used in the context of countries such as France or Colombia to mean an administrative unit at the regional level. In Guatemala, such administrative units are called "departamentos". However, Santiago Atitlán is not an administrative unit (departamento), but a city in Guatemala. It is located in the Sololá department, which in turn is part of the Sololá administrative region. Sololá is one of the 22 departments in Guatemala. Located on the shores of Lake Atitlán, Santiago Atitlán is known for its indigenous culture and history.
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close work,Handwork
IMG_202312Chicken bus a must in Guatemala. Because it's an adventure to ride the local buses. They are called that because everything is transported with them. In my opinion, they drive like dead pigs and sometimes you have to stay on your seats, but it's really an adventure and it's cheap to get from A to B.03_132511.jpg
chickenbus
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vulcan San Pedro
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artstore
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dock of Santiago
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Streedart
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bay of Santiago Atitlan
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