The largest city in Central America, Guatemala City is the capital and economic center of Guatemala. The city lies in a valley of the country's central highlands, about 4,900 feet (1,500 meters) above sea level. About one third of Guatemala's urban population lives in Guatemala City.

Places of interest

Guatemala City is home to a number of cultural institutions, including museums, the Academy of Fine Arts, and the Academy of Music. The city's archaeology museum is famous for its collection of Mayan objects. Among the city's notable places of worship are a cathedral dating from 1815 and the church of Santo Domingo, which is famous throughout Central America for its Holy Week procession. Other interesting sites include the concrete relief map of Guatemala in Minerva Park and the Olympic City built for the Central American Olympic Games of 1950. Close to the city are the villages of Chinautla, which are famous for their handmade pottery.

Economy

Guatemala City accounts for more than half of the industrial output in a country with a mainly agricultural economy. Factories in the city produce tires, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, fabrics, and other consumer goods. The city is also Guatemala's hub for highways, railways, and air transport.

History

For more than 200 years Antigua Guatemala was the capital of Guatemala. In 1773, however, earthquakes almost completely destroyed the city. A village called La Ermita was chosen as the site for the new capital of Guatemala, which was then a Spanish colony. Guatemala City was founded there in 1776 and replaced Antigua Guatemala as the capital.

Guatemala and other Central American colonies declared independence from Spain in 1821. In the years that followed Guatemala City became the capital first of the province of Central America and then of the Central American Federation. Fighting and violence in the city's streets led in part to the end of the federation in 1833. Guatemala City then became the capital of independent Guatemala.

Disastrous earthquakes shook Guatemala City for six weeks in 1917–18. The modern city was largely rebuilt after this catastrophe. For many years only low structures were built. Many large, multistoried structures of steel and concrete were later erected, however. Population (1995 estimate), 1,167,500.