The Architect as Policymaker: The Case of Comayagua's Heritage Preservation in Honduras

"It holds a pivotal place in the nation's history, having served as its colonial and early republican capital for over 300 years. However, when the capital was relocated to Tegucigalpa in 1880, Comayagua's urban expansion halted, inadvertently preserving an ample and rich heritage. By the early 1990s, much of the city's architectural legacy was in a state of disrepair. Recognizing the urgent need to protect it, the governments of Honduras and Spain initiated a collaborative effort,"

"The city of Comayagua was strategically founded by Spain in 1536, at a location chosen for its central position in what is now Honduras: situated between the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, and equidistant from the cities of Antigua Guatemala and Leon in Nicaragua. Like any other Spanish city in America, its urban fabric was laid out in accordance with the Laws of the Indies. Thus, it features a classic grid plan centered on a plaza and dominated by the city's main architectural landmark: the Cathedral."

"According to the notes of Honduran historian Mario Martinez, the structure was completed in the early 18th century; it is a notable example of American Baroque architecture. Its facade features a clock from the 12th century, believed to be the oldest on the continent. The interior features four gilded altarpieces and a sculpture of the Christ of Salame, a work attributed to the Sevillian Baroque artist Andrés de Ocampo, considered the only example of his work in America."

Comayagua sits in a central Honduran valley and served as the colonial and early republican capital for over 300 years. The 1880 relocation of the capital to Tegucigalpa halted urban expansion and inadvertently preserved a rich colonial heritage. By the early 1990s much of the architectural legacy was in disrepair, prompting Honduras and Spain to launch a long-term restoration program and establish preservation policy. Spain founded the city in 1536 between the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. The urban grid follows the Laws of the Indies, centered on a plaza dominated by the Cathedral, an early 18th-century American Baroque building with a 12th-century facade clock, gilded altarpieces, and the Christ of Salame sculpture.

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