Municipality of Trinidad
Trinidad is a municipality in the department of Santa Bárbara in Honduras.
It was founded in 1794, and on May 14 of the same year, the first municipal government was installed. It was granted city status on March 18, 1926.
History
The site was founded in 1794 by a group of Spanish Creole mestizos, including Sephardic Jews or Spanish Jews, who came from Chiquimula, Guatemala. In the late 18th century, it developed in a small valley, and its Spanish population mostly came from Chiquimula. They named the place «El Vallecito de La Trinidad» in reference to the Christian Trinity.
The favorable climate contributed to the prosperity of the founders. A census conducted in 1791 by the Bishop of Comayagua recorded 36 Spaniards, 14 Ladinos, and 16 unmarried individuals.
One of its advantages was its access to the royal road from Comayagua and the excellent conditions of the land for agriculture and livestock. On May 13, 1794, the layout of squares and streets was planned, and the site for the church was chosen, with a fine ocote wood cross placed in front of the designated spot. The first authorities of the place were:
- Mayor (1794): Juan José Fajardo Morello
- Notary: Miguel Félix Paredes
- Chief Alderman (1794): Cayetano Faxjardo Morello
- Second Alderman: Pablo José Paz
- Chief Constable: Vicente Rápalo
- Second Constables: Martín Fernández and Francisco Pineda
Location
The municipality borders the municipality of Petoa to the north, the municipalities of Ilama and San José de Colinas to the south, the municipality of Chinda to the east, and the municipalities of San Luis and San José de Colinas to the west.
Municipality
The idea of establishing the site as a municipality arose in 1792, and a request was immediately sent to the subdelegation of Chinda for that purpose. Shortly after, Subdelegate Blas José de Baena arrived to verify if the chosen place offered excellent living conditions for the population. The advantages at the time were the direct access to the royal road from Comayagua, the magnificent land for cultivating maize, rice, beans, plantains, and more, as well as favorable climate for cattle breeding and abundant water for human consumption. Recognizing these conditions, the Delegate of the Tencoa District issued orders to proceed with the layout of streets and squares, choose the appropriate location for the church and town hall, and select the first individuals who would form the initial municipal government. Thus, on May 13, 1794, the streets were laid out, and the first cross was placed in the designated spot for the church (a monument that is still preserved). At that moment, Mr. Juan José Faxjardo was chosen as the first Mayor of the municipality, and Cayetano Faxjardo Morello became the First Alderman. Trinidad was elevated to the status of a city in 1926.
Cultural Heritage
In the municipality of Trinidad, there is a significant wealth of this type of heritage, with the local Catholic Church standing out. It was built many years ago, although the multiple repairs give it a more recent touch. In front of the church, there is an old wooden cross (made of fine ocote wood), supposedly installed by people representing the authority of the Chinda District to mark the municipality’s founding when it was authorized. This cross was placed on May 13, 1794, to indicate the location where the Catholic temple would be built. Inscribed at its base is the following message:
Monument to Life
From the deep roots of the underground, gigantic veins sustain the millennia-old blood of the people of Trinidad. By the divine grace of those who gave us a place to be born, we were Aluas, Spaniards, peninsulares, and creoles. Today, we are water, fire, friendship, and joy. Our historical consciousness has origin, dignity, and ancestral pride. And so it will be forever. Trinidad, May 14, 1794.
Tourist Attraction
The community’s general cemetery is another immovable property of great historical and spiritual value for the residents. It connects them with the world of their ancestors, through the architecture of the mausoleums and a series of hieroglyphics that have not yet been deciphered in their content.
Villages
- Trinidad
- Cebadilla
- Chimizales
- El Carmen
- El Corozal
- El Diviso
- El Guineal
- El Higuito
- El Rodeo
- El Tigre
- El Tumbo
- La Alegría
- La Angostura
- La Huerta
- La Unión
- Las Delicias
- Las Trojes
- Matasanales
- Pinabete o Loma Limpia
- San Francisco
- Santa Rosita
- Tascalapa
- El Carrizal
- la zona
- Aguacatales
- Quebrada Honda
- El Rosario
- Montecristo
- Chimizales
