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Quetzaltenango Travel Guide |
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On This Page:Quetzaltenango Overview
The highland burg of Quetzaltenango is the second-largest city in Guatemala, with a population of more than 300,000. Like Chichicastenango, this was and still is a principal center of the Maya Ki'che of Guatemala—and many locals still refer to the city by its Ki'che name Xelajú. In fact, most people simply call the place Xela (pronounced "sheh-la"). Xelajú is close to the sight where Ki'che King Tecún Umán was killed in battle against the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado. Following Tecún Umán's defeat in 1524, the city was renamed Quetzaltenango, or "place of the Quetzal," which is what Alvarado's Nahuatl mercenaries called it. In 1848, Quetzaltenango declared itself "El Sexto Estado del los Altos," independent from Guatemala. However, while the city retains an independent streak, its political independence lasted only 2 years, and the Guatemalan military quickly brought the rogue state back into the fold.
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