Suchitoto, cultural destination in El Salvador

In recent years, the city of suchitoto has become a first-class tourist destination both for its cultural value and for the beauty found in its streets.

As for the first, it has a long history that dates back to pre-columbian times. And, regarding the second, stroll through its cobbled streets seeing its colonial style houses and other monuments is a real pleasure. Next, we are going to show you everything you can see and do in Suchitoto, which is in the department of Cuscatlan, one of the fourteen that make up El Salvador, in the center of the country.

History of Suchitoto

As we told you, this city of El Salvador It is one of the oldest in Central America. It was already populated when the hosts of Diego Alvarado, who refounded it with the name of San Salvador by order of the governor Don Jorge de Alvarado. The year was 1528 and until then, it had been one of the population centers of the Nahua ethnic group.

However, already in 1539, various incidents caused the population to begin moving to the Hamacas valley, where the current town is located. San Salvador. However, Suchitoto maintained part of its inhabitants and, already in the 17th century, it experienced a period of growth due to the rise of the manufacture of indigo.

In 1858, during the presidency of Gerardo Barrios, received the title of city. But three years later it ceased to be the capital of the department of Cuscatlán for the benefit of the population of cojutepeque. Already in the 20th century we find it converted into an important agricultural and livestock center. However, the civil war that devastated the country in the 1980s caused a mass exodus of its neighbors.

After the end of the conflict, many returned to rebuild the city, devastated by bombs. Since then, it has become one of the tourist centers of the country. The cultural work of the film director had a lot to do with this development. Alejandro Cotto, a native of the town and known as "the son of Suchitoto." It was he who created the Permanent Festival of Art and Culture, which has been celebrated there since 1991 and also who wrote its official anthem.

cultural heritage of the city

We have already mentioned the beauty and tradition of the cobbled streets of Suchitoto, with its colonial style houses. These will transport you to the past with their doorways, beautiful balconies and roofs built with earth. To all this they have been added in recent years hotels, restaurants and cafes picturesque places that contribute to the journey to colonial times that visiting Suchitoto entails. But the city also has magnificent monuments and museums, as well as with a privileged natural environment. Let's get to know all this.

Church of Saint Lucia

You will find it in front of the Central Park, also called Plaza Mayor, where, by the way, a lively traditional market is held. It was built in 1853 on the remains of an older temple that disappeared in a fire. Is one of the most accomplished examples of neoclassicism in El Salvador.

A good example of this is its façade. It has two lateral and symmetrical towers between which a triangular pediment extends, in turn, crowned by another smaller tower and in the center of which there is a clock. Likewise, the lower part has six Ionic columns that give way to three semicircular arches, the central one being larger. Finally, the domes are adorned with porcelain plates. Since 1978, the church of Santa Lucía is National Monument.

The old city

We have already told you about the primitive city of San Salvador. You will find his remains about twelve kilometers from the current town. More specifically, they are in the area of ​​the Bermuda farm. The layout of the streets can still be seen, the main square, the Cabildo, the Trinity Church and even a wall with guard posts.

In all these constructions it is observed the influence of native architecture (not in vain, the Nahuas inhabited it in large numbers) and the place is classified as National Historic Site 1975 since.

On the other hand, you can also see in the surroundings the Colima hacienda. In this case, it is a sugar mill from the late 18th century that also produced cotton, wood and indigo. As you know, the latter is a blue dye that was manufactured in abundance in the area. Just on another farm, the so-called The Births, you can see the entire production process, as well as a tour of its history. In this sense, we recommend that you also visit the Flower Bird workshop, where ten women create wonderful craft pieces with indigo fabrics, from shirts to bags. And this leads us to talk to you about the museums of Suchitoto.

Museums of Suchitoto

Despite being a small city, with about twenty-five thousand inhabitants, Suchitoto has a good number of interesting museums. Among them, stands out the one with money, which opened in 2011. As its name suggests, it has an important collection of coins and banknotes from all eras. Among the first, it is worth mentioning a tetradrachm Macedonian dated to the 4th century BC. But it also houses religious and historical objects in its rooms.

It is also interesting grandmother's house, created in 2008, which shows craft and artistic pieces. There you can also purchase some typical souvenirs from the city.

But, above all, we advise you to visit the Alejandro Cotto House of Remembrance. We have already told you about the importance of the filmmaker for the city and his former home has been converted into a museum. In it you will learn more about his life and his work, but you will also see an exhibition of pieces of great cultural and historical value, some more than four hundred years old. All this without mentioning the beauty of the house, with beautiful rooms and gardens and impressive views.

Likewise, we recommend that you visit the Peace Art Center. As its name indicates, it is a site of reflection and knowledge of the war memory of the municipality. But it also houses artistic pieces created by people at risk of social exclusion who were saved by this activity.

Finally, the Lucía Cañas center shows the works of the painter and poet of this name. Likewise, you will see portraits of illustrious people from the 19th and 20th centuries who contributed to the development of Suchitoto.

The nature of Suchitoto

We have already told you that this beautiful Salvadoran town also has a privileged natural environment. In the mentioned Colima hacienda There is a bird watching point, as well as wonderful landscapes. Another space to enjoy nature is Guazapa hill, where you will enjoy the purest air and lush vegetation. However, perhaps the two most beautiful places in this Salvadoran municipality are Lake Suchitlán and the Tercios waterfall. Let's get to know them.

Lake Suchitlán

Despite its name, it is an artificial lake created in 1976, when the Cerrón Grande hydroelectric plant. But this does not prevent it from being a place of stunning beauty and ecological value. To get to know it better, you can take boat excursions that take you to the most beautiful islands it houses. Between them, those of El Chaparral, the Birds, the Lovers or the Hermit. They leave the tourist port of San Juan, where you will also find several restaurants.

You can also enjoy sports activities such as kayaking or fishing in its waters. Not in vain, it is a lake so large that its banks reach three departments: Cuscatlán, Chalatenango and Cabañas. As an anecdote, we will tell you that the name of the lake was noted by Alejandro Cotto, who took the first letters from Suchitoto and, precisely, the last ones from Cuscatlán to create it.

The Tercios waterfall

We finish our tour of what to see in Suchitoto by telling you about the spectacular Tercios waterfall. You will find it approximately one kilometer from the town, in the Las Animas stream. It is a ten meter high water fall that also offers you wonderful views of Lake Suchitlán.

To get to it you will have to walk over stones, but, precisely, the rare rock formation It is another of the attractions of this area. In fact, there are several legends about its formation. One of the most popular says that a young woman from a wealthy family fell in love with an indigenous man. This led to a dispute and a curse in which the girl's entire family would die. When this happened, the fabrics of her tent turned into rocks, giving rise to the formation of the Tercios.

In conclusion, we have shown you everything you can see and do in suchitoto, great cultural destination of El Salvador. However, the Central American country also has other great attractions. Leaving aside their beautiful beaches, we advise you that, if you have time, you also know Santa Ana, with its impressive cathedral and the volcano of the same name; he Mayan archaeological site of Tazumal, dated around the 2nd century after Christ and located in the municipality of Chalchuapa and, above all, the capital of the country itself, San Salvador, with monuments such as the National Palace, the House of the Academies or the Rosario church. Come and get to know this beautiful American nation.