Municipality of Gracias
Gracias is a municipality in the department of Lempira in Honduras.
This city was founded in 1536 under the name «Gracias a Dios» by Gonzalo de Alvarado y Chávez, cousin of Pedro de Alvarado, on the banks of the Higuito River. During the colonial era, Gracias was very important for the Spanish and experienced some years of growth before being overshadowed by the cities of Antigua Guatemala and Comayagua.
On January 14, 1539, Gracias was named a municipality by Juan de Montejo, and a mass was officiated there by the Bishop of Honduras, Cristóbal de Pedraza.
General Data of Gracias
- Territorial extension: 432.5 km²
- Patronal festival: December 13th, the day of Saint Lucia. April 25th, the day of Saint Mark.
- Villages: 21
- Hamlets: 11
- Population: 50,256 (INE projection as of 2015)
Seat of the Royal Audiencia and Chancery of the Confines
Through a Royal Decree dated September 3, 1543, issued in the city of Valladolid (Kingdom of Spain), on May 16, 1544, it was established as the seat of the Royal Audiencia of the Confines, officially called the «Real Audiencia and Chancery of the Confines of Guatemala and Nicaragua.»
Its first president was Alonso de Maldonado y Solís (1543-1548), and several judges, all with legal training, were appointed: Diego de Herrera, Pedro Ramírez de Quiñonez, and Don Juan Roxel, all Spaniards. This audiencia was responsible for applying laws emanating from Spain and representing the rights of the Crown in land claims, encomiendas, and taxes, as well as administering justice in various instances and fulfilling other varied duties.
The Audiencia was moved in 1549 to the city of Santiago de Guatemala (now Antigua Guatemala). Perhaps this decision was unfortunate for the unity of Central America, as it placed the seat of the superior authorities in the easternmost part of the Kingdom of Guatemala, while Gracias offered a much more central location, intermediate between the northern and southern provinces.
Places and battles it has experienced
During the events of the 1919 Civil War, the colonels Vicente Tosta Carrasco, Flavio Delcid, and Gregorio Ferrera, and Captain Natividad Pérez, leaders of the «Revolutionary Army of the West,» began their military operations in western Honduras.
On August 11th, at 05:00 hours, they attacked the city of Gracias. The defending troops were under the command of General José León Castro. After a fierce battle, the invaders took control of the Plaza and government offices, and then moved towards Santa Rosa de Copán.
On February 7, 1924, during the Civil War, the colonial city of Gracias fell into the hands of rebel forces led by generals Vicente Tosta Carrasco and Gregorio Ferrera.
In 1959, a rebellion occurred among the command of the Third Military Zone of Honduras, which comprised the departments of Copán, Lempira, Ocotepeque, and Santa Bárbara. The headquarters was in the city of Santa Rosa de Copán, while rebel officers moved the headquarters to Gracias and took the San Cristóbal Fort (Gracias) as their defensive stronghold. After sporadic fighting, two soldiers lost their lives, and the rebellion had no success. Tranquility was restored, and Colonel Armando Flores Carías was appointed as the new commander.
Geography
Gracias is the capital of the Lempira department and is connected to the western region through the Western Highway towards Santa Rosa de Copán. The city is located at the foot of the Celaque Mountain, the highest peak in Honduras at 2,849 meters above sea level.
Boundaries
Gracias is bordered to the north by the municipalities of Lepaera, La Iguala, and Las Flores; to the south by the municipalities of La Campa, San Manuel Colohete, and Belén; to the east by the municipality of La Iguala; and to the west by the municipalities of Belén Gualcho and Corquín.
Places of interest
Gracias has many places of interest where visitors can enjoy nature and the hospitality of its inhabitants. Some of these include:
- The well-preserved historical center.
- Three colonial churches located in the city center: La Merced (1611), San Marcos (18th century), and San Sebastián (20th century).
- The building that housed the Royal Audiencia of the Confines, established on May 16, 1544.
- Casa Galeano, a property that belonged to Mr. Alberto Galeano Trejo, showcasing unique architecture and decorations. It is a historical museum of the city.
- The Botanical Garden, adjacent to Casa Galeano, which showcases national and international plant species from countries such as France, Spain, and Mexico. It features Brazil nuts, Madagascar palms, and plants brought from the botanical garden of Cuba, among others.
- Hot Springs, with thermal water deposits conditioned for visitors. The temperatures range from 35°C to 42°C. There are two locations, one southeast of Gracias (14°33’36″N 88°34’12″W) and another on the road to Santa Rosa de Copán (14°39’16″N 88°35’41″W).
- San Cristóbal Fort, a historic military building that guarded the security of the colonial city and where the tomb of Juan Lindo is located.
- Celaque National Park or Celaque Mountain, which is the highest peak in Honduras, Cerro Las Minas, at 2,849 meters above sea level. It is characterized by its cloud forests and rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. It is also a national heritage of Honduras. «Celaque» means «box of water» in the Lenca language.
Around Gracias, there are several small communities, which have the largest indigenous concentration in Honduras, especially of the Lenca people. Among these towns, it is worth mentioning La Campa, famous for its pottery production and the altarpieces in its church; San Manuel Colohete, with a beautiful colonial church; and Erandique, which preserves various indigenous traditions.
Socioeconomic Aspect of the City
The city has banks, restaurants, markets, the Dr. Juan Manuel Gálvez Hospital, university centers, secondary, primary, and university education schools, call centers, radio stations, UHF and cable TV, and various craft stores selling pottery, textiles, and more.
The majority of the population in the city of Gracias and its surroundings are primarily engaged in agriculture and livestock farming.
The Famous Gracias Hot Springs, just 5 minutes away.
Airport
The city of Gracias currently has a runway for aircraft, inaugurated on October 28, 2013. The runway is 1,300 meters long and 80 meters wide. Projects like this strengthen the area both in terms of tourism and economy, connecting western Honduras with international airports in the capital city, Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, and others.
