Circled by mountains and built on hilltops, Tegucigalpa is the capital of Honduras, a country in Central America. It is the largest city in Honduras and an important economic center for the region.

Places of interest

The city's main buildings include the presidential and legislative palaces. The National University of Honduras, founded in 1847, is also located in Tegucigalpa. The older area of Tegucigalpa is a traditional Spanish-style city, with an 18th-century cathedral and a large town square. Other sites of interest include the National Museum, the National Library, a national music school, and the Pan-American Agriculture School.

Economy

Tegucigalpa has no rail transportation. Therefore for the shipment of goods, the city depends on the nearby airport at Toncontín and on highways that connect it to coastal cities on the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

Until the 1970s industrial production was mainly for local use. Production increased when the region's road system improved. In the late 20th century, textile production and food processing were growing industries in Tegucigalpa. Lead, silver, and zinc were mined in the area around the city.

History

Tegucigalpa was founded in 1578 on the slopes of Mount Picacho as a gold- and silver-mining center. It alternated with Comayagua, a city about 35 miles (56 kilometers) to the northwest, as the capital from 1824 to 1880. Tegucigalpa was made the permanent capital of Honduras in 1880. In 1938 it was combined with the city of Comayagüela, which is located just across the Choluteca River to the south, to form the distrito central (“central district”) of Honduras. Population (1999 estimate), 988,400.