The
center of the town is a big square named "Parque de CentroAmerica".
It is a beautiful park lined with restaurants, shops, vendors
and commercial establishments. It is a meeting point where people
like to sit and relax and enjoy the day. Handicraft fairs are
held in the square every month. These fairs are a lot of fun
with families participating in cultural activities, food and
games. Casa de la Cultura is located close to the park. It houses
the museum of natural history, which displays textiles, arts
and crafts and information about Mayan traditions. Other points
of interest around the park are the cathedral, which was restored
after the earthquakes and a museum based on the development
of the railways in Quetzaltenango.
Quetzaltenango
has a beautiful theater constructed in a neoclassical design.
The theatre hosts of variety of performances and art productions,
by both local and international artists. Two striking monuments
in Quetzaltenango are the statue of Quiche captain Tecun Uman,
fiercely guarding the road climbed by the conquering Spaniards
into the highlands, and a monument to the marimba, which commemorates
the important role Quetzaltenango has played in developing and
writing music for the double marimba. One cannot miss the market
in Quetzaltenango. These markets are most active on Fridays
and the weekends with crowds of locals dressed in colorful garments,
hawkers and vendors selling their products. These markets attract
a large number of visitors for their low prices and high quality
products that include handicrafts, handmade garments, artwork,
livestock, flowers, fruits, vegetables and food.
