Introduction
Comitan Dominguez is located to the East of Chiapas state, only 164km away from the capital city Tuxtla Gutierrez, near the Guatemalan borderline. Previously known as Balum Canan, center of the border region of the state, Comitan is delightful city located 1,650 meters over the sea level. At present, Comitan has a population of 104,986 inhabitants. It is the origin of men and women such as Dr. Belisario Dominguez and Rosario Castellanos. The town is rich in natural beauty, colonial art, traditions, archeological sites, and enjoys great gastronomy.
Description
The Historic Center of Comitan City is presided by one of the Mudejar style buildings, Santo
Domingo Temple, next to the Cultural Center Rosario Castellanos, House Museum Dr. Belisario
Dominguez, the Calvario Temple, one of the most beautiful and largest plazas in the country,
the Junchavin City Theatre of neo-classic style and the Municipal Palace, famous due to the fact
that the Independence Act of 1821 was signed there. The Historic Center of this enigmatic city is, in short,
scenery of the life of the Comitecos and testimony of centuries of constructive
history.
Its recent remodeling has given a special touch to its dignity, same that allows the tourist discovering the
great mysteries of the personality and customs of its inhabitants.
Historical Monuments
· Santo Domingo Temple ·
Built in the year 1586 by Fray Alonso Ponce, through its existence it has suffered a lot of
modifications, such as the one concerning its ceiling. The Purisima Concepcion Church from
1873 combines various construction styles such as it Neo-Classic style ceiling, characteristic of the traditional
Comiteca architecture, and the Mudejar influence from the south of Spain.
The tower is one of the most outstanding elements of this building that combines a series of foreing style,
such as its cubic form, classic in the North of Africa and relative of the Mudejar towers of the Dominic
churches of Copainala, Tecpatan and Chapultenango. The series of
blind arches discovered in 1983 stand out, as they give us an idea of the medieval styles in Italy.
· Cultural Center Rosario Castellanos ·
Built in the 30's, inside what was previously the convent, barrack and school, this building made of stone
invites to enjoy serene moments in the ground of the orange tress where the sculpture of Rosario Castellanos
is, in commemoration of her XXV passing away anniversary. The panoramic view of the Church, the silence
interrupted by the doves flight and the typical columns of wood that serve as the frame of the central patio
are the most outstanding elements that the tourist can enjoy, besides admiring the mural by Rafel
Muñoz Lopez and the lovely traditional toy box as homage to Mexican popular toys.
· Palacio Municipal ·
In our days it occupies the place of the old legislative building that represented all the colonial period of the
Indian Republic. This building has its origin at the end of the XIX century, and its construction was ordered
by the political head Eleuterio Aguilar. The arches and its balconies in neo-classic style stand out.
Inside the tourist can find the murals of Manuel Suasnavar that narrate the history of Comitan,
previously known as Balum Canan.
· Teatro de la Ciudad Junchavin ·
Built in pure neo-classic style, common during the Porfiriato; wall stones and fronts are
corinthians bars. It was previously owned by Natalia Rovelo Argüello, whose initials appear at
external walls; Daniel Zebadua bought it to convert it in a present theater. Presently it is being
used for cultural activities and a fair for august every year.
· Templo del Calvario ·
This church could be traced at the XVIII century because of its single rectangle, but it was built 100 years
later. Its frontispiece comes from a repertory of older Guatemala, as baroque style strips on spiral over the
columns are a symbol of the Consecrated Host; in this intimate relationship, main images are kept in the
neo-classic wooden niche. Other details found indoors are square columns and a total arch along the cornice,
belonging to neo-classic style.
· Iglesia de San Jose ·
A Comiteco -a man from Comitan, named Comiteco- talented architect, Don Trinidad Abarca,
developed this church through a combination of neo-gothic styles during the transition from the XIX to the
XX century. Exuberant personality combines neo-gothic with neo-classic.
The altar and pulpit
are wooden, produced by wood makers from the barrio de Guadalupe; colored stained glass church
windows with scenes of the Comitan religious Master in the middle of XX century, come from Mexico City.
If its historic vestment is put aside, the church shows its simple floor of one simple aisle and its Mudejar
cover, an example of ecclesiastic architectural Chiapas from the XVII century.
· Templo de San Caralampio ·
Built in 1852, and initiated by Messrs Raymundo Solis, Jose Guillen y Jose Leon, its position enhances high
mystic senses. The frontispiece is linked to popular Neo-Classic models on Corinthian columns, total arch
and cornice denticulations are made of wood and tiles at the Altar center and where the saint Master
Caralampio was imaged in the XIX century.
· Templo de Guadalupe ·
It was built in 1907, in the middle of fruit trees and magueys; presently the church is in an urban space.
The usual styles in Comitan like quilting, corinthian columns, cornice denticulation, pinnacle with garland,
were used with great freedom, combining the frontispiece with ogival openings taken from the gothic style.
The interior chamber is just one aisle, with a paneled vault on the presbytery. The stained glass window
celebrates the Tepeyac miracle.
· Templo de San Sebastian ·
It was possibly built in the XVII century. Presenting a frontispiece in baroque style with saint images
roughly carved in the niches of inter columns, a symbolic and tough Santiago Matamoros and a
belfry as pinnacle, the interior aisle is remodeled in a neo-classic style with saint images coming from
Santo Domingo made in the first half of the XX century.
· Barrio de las siete esquinas ·
The colonial urbanism was made in chess format in the Spaniards Republic as well as in the Indians
Republic. A Renaissance ideal; in Mexico some cities as Taxco or Guanajuato followed
the irregular terrain, for that reason they are famous. Comitan is a peculiar case because it was outlined in
irregular land with inclined streets preserving Real State introduced by the monks in the XVI century. For this
reason, and as a contrast, the Seven Corner Square is a surprise.
Museums
· Casa Museo Doctor Belisario Dominguez ·
This museum is an example of the great big houses of the XIX Century; in its frontispiece, the entrance with its Fatima hand shape caller and the elegant balcony stand out.
In the yard, a pleasant garden can refresh body and soul. It was the residence of an outstanding Mexican hero, Dr. Belisario Dominguez; it has six living rooms where the
intimate life and professional memories are shown and the historical frame is a testimony of the courage of the Senator against Victoriano Huerta.
· Museo Arqueologico de Comitan ·
It shows the development of the Pre-Hispanic cultures in the plain region from the Pre-historic, Pre-Classic, Classic, and Post-Classical period to the Spaniards’ arrival. In this
display, the Tenan Puente room gathers materials found in this zone as alabaster vases, possibly obtained from the trade with the center of Mexico.
· Museo de Arte Hermila Dominguez de Castellanos ·
It was opened on August 28, 1988. It displays contemporary plastic arts, eespecially from the South of Mexico, with permanent collections as well as temporary exhibits.
Although this museum is small, it is the only one of this genre in all the State. Its name remembers Belisario Dominguez’ daughter.
...Don’t miss!
Comitan region has enough attractions to deserve a trip to Chiapas. Any visitor should not miss the following travel hints:
· Visit to the 1° de mayo market; here the traveler will have the opportunity to enter a world of colors, smells and tastes
· Junchavin Archeological zone
· Travel to the Seven Corners Square
· Tenan Puente archeological zone
· Visit to the barrio de San Sebastian
Gastronomy
Comitan has special relevance in Chiapas gastronomy; it has strong personality reflected in the encounter of its two roots, the autochthonous and the Spanish. The Comiteco
culinary fame is such that many people consider a trip to the plain region as a gastronomic pleasure because of its famous pickles and butifarras, chanfaina, palmito, ground
meat tortilla toasts and salpicon, which are some of the examples of varied gastronomy.
Don’t forget to accompany them with Comiteco traditional liquor. Typical restaurant
link. Don’t forget that Comitan is a very attractive city for visitors from the entire world; we can also find here diversity of international dishes as Italian, Chinese and
vegetarian.
Handcrafts
Comitan de Dominguez is the border Point where the most important ethnic group is the Tojolabal who has not forgotten the ancient handcrafts techniques, including the colored fabrics (blouses, huipiles, and rebozos) pottery, wood carving and saddletree. You can find all these handcrafts in several stores located in the city’s historical downtown.
Night life
Amusement is not only limited to visit vestiges of Mayan culture or region’s natural beauties, but also includes enjoyment of the nightlife to experience in the city. Here the visitor can drink a glass of wine with trova music and chat with friends in different bars entertained with salsa or Reggae; the best of all is that you can easily go from one place to another.
Weather
Most months of the year the weather is warm—hot with heavy rains during the summer (July to October)
Ethnical groups
In ancient ages, Comitan was the cradle of Mayan culture. The plain region is not an exception; in this area people of different tongues and cultures live as the Tojolabales and Chujes, both groups of Mayan descent.
Lodging
This magic city offers several choices for the visitor, from $10 USD to $120 USD, always combining the authentic beauty and charm, the simplicity and the luxury, the adventure and the passion, all resulting in a unique and unforgettable experience, taking care of the pleasant environment where the good taste prevails, either in its space as in its colonial architecture.
Location
It is located in the state’s border, limiting with the neighbor country of Guatemala, 171 Km from the capital city of Tuxtla Gutierrez.
How to get there?
To arrive at the city of Comitan de Dominguez, if the tourist is located near Tuxtla Gutierrez he has to take the Federal highway 190 or better known as Pan-American Highway and drive 171 Km. This will take him approximately three and a half hours.
Attractions
· Parador museo Santa Maria, cascadas el Chiflon, lagos de Colon, Lagartero archeological zone, Chincultik, Montebello Lagoons, Las Nubes tourist Center Santo Domingo Fair, Rosario Castellanos International Festival, San Caralampio Fair.
Recommendations
The best months to travel to Comitan are November, December and January, when the landscape keeps its greenery and the temperature is more pleasant; don’t forget that nights are cold. It is suggested to bring comfortable clothes, shoes to walk long distances and an umbrella for the rainy season (May—October). In low lands the temperature is very hot and sunny, so it’s recommended to wear a hat, sun screen and repellent.
Near places
San Cristobal de las Casas, Ocosingo, La Trinitaria.
Festivities
Comitan Festival Traditions and uses follow a calendar that breaks with rituals, special meals, music, play and dance. They are celebrated with particular devotion related to
the festival cycle of Pre-Hispanic rituals.
· Santo Domingo Fair ·
It takes place in mid August with different cultural activities.
· San Caralampio Fair ·
It takes place during February, celebrating different saints, eespecially on the Tenth the day of San Caralampio, being this one the most colorful and
important festivities of the city.
·Rosario Castellanos International Festival ·
It takes place the last week of June and gathers a great variety of national and international artists and groups.
Contact
For additional information it is advisable to visit this city's tourism delegation.
Calle Central Oriente, Benito Juarez 6
CP 30000
Phone 01 (963) 632 4047
& 01 (800) 280-3500
