San Cristobal de las Casas
After defeating the Zoques and the Chiapanecas, Captain Diego de Mazariegos founded the Villa Real de Chiapa, this villa became the capital of the province of Chiapas during most of the colonial period. San Cristobal de las Casas owes its name to Friar Bartholomew of las Casas, who defended the cause for Indian people against the Spanish crown and the Vatican. Friar Bartholomew dedicated his life to civil rights and racial justice way before these concepts were accepted by the European Society.
During Colonial times, Villa Real de Chiapa only counted with two areas, the enclosure and the barrio. The enclosure was the center and it covered a few blocks around the main plaza, where spanish families and people who worked for them lived. Around the convent of la Merced, there was a neighborhood populated by Indians, mestizos and mulattoes.
Following this first nucleus, five Indian neighborhoods were founded in 1528: The Mexica Neighborhood (Aztec), the San Andrés Neighborhood (Zapotec), The Tlaxcala Neighborhood (Tlaxcaltecs), The San Antonio Neighborhood (Mixtec), and the Cuxtitali Neighborhood (Quichés). The first three neighborhoods were formed by "Friendly Indians" who had accompanied Diego de Mazariegos from Central Mexico. Guatemalan Quiché Indians, who arrived at San Cristobal de las Casas with Pedro Portocarrero founded Cuxtitali. In 1549, after the crown forbid Indian slavery, The Tzotzil, Tzetzal and Zoque people released from serving the Spanish houses founded El Cerrillo. The different barrios in San Cristobal de las Casas are identified today by the crafts of the people who live there. Each neighborhood has its own plaza and nearly all of them have their own church.
Among some of San Cristobal's main attractions the traveler can find: The 31st of March Plaza, The House of Diego de Mazariegos, The San Cristobal Cathedral, The museum of regional dresses, The St Nicholas Church, the capilla del Sotano, The St Dominic's Church and ex-convent, and The Center for the development of Mayan Medicine, at this center you will be able to find a Mayan shaman who will be able to prescribe medicinal herbs to cure different illnesses.
Interested in visiting this place?
Send us through our request from what you would like to do and we will get back to you with our offer.
Other attractions nearby:
