Guatemala City

The Christmas fiesta in Guatemala mixes Christian and Mayan traditional celebrations. More than half of the population are of Mayan descent and most Guatemalans are Roman Catholic.

Capital and largest city of Guatemala, situated in the Guatemalan Highlands at an altitude of 1,500 m/4,920 ft on a plateau in the Sierra Madre mountains; population (2002 est) 942,300. A group of volcanoes overlooks the city: Acatenango (3,976 m/13,044 ft), Fuego (3,763 m/12,346 ft), and Agua (3,760 m/12,336 ft). Industries include textiles, tyres, silverware, footwear, and cement. Half of the industrial output of Guatemala emanates from Guatemala City. It was founded in 1776 as Guatemala's third capital after earthquakes destroyed the earlier capitals of Antigua and Cuidad Vieja in 1773 and 1542 respectively. It was itself severely damaged by subsequent earthquakes in 1917–18 and 1976.

There is a cathedral (built 1782–1815), and on the western outskirts of the city are the Mayan ruins of Kaminal Juyú. San Carlos University, founded in 1676, is one of the oldest in the Americas and the city is also home to Francisco Morroquin University (1971) and three other universities. The National Conservatory of Music (1881) is here. Other notable buildings include the churches of Santo Domingo and San Francisco.