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Quetzaltenango lies in the heart of the Sierra Madre, at an altitude of 2,333 metres, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, in the south-western part of the Guatemala Republic. Its name means “city of the queztal”, the legendary bird with the changing feathers that has become the nation’s symbol, but those who live there prefer to call it “Xelajù”, which was its ancient name.
It’s the country’s second city both for number of inhabitants - 205,000 – and for the importance of the cultural and economic activities taking place there. 80% of the population is of Maya origin, largely belonging to the Quiché ethnic group; 15% is made up of “ladinos”.
The city developed as a coffee stocking and grinding centre during the XX century .
Quetzaltenango is right in the heart of the coffee and corn fields, and also near the tropical fruit orchards. Further, it hosts some textile industries and craft activities. Indeed, it’s a commercial centre that has become a reference point for the entire surrounding area, thanks to its many markets attracting thousands of visitors. The city is tightly linked to the cultural context it’s part of.
With its four universities, museums, theatre and language schools the city is considered the country’s cultural capital.
USEFUL LINKS
http://www.xelaenlinea.com/
http://www.abyznewslinks.com/guate.htm
http://www.inforpressca.com/api_inforpress/clasificaciones/porpais/index_pais.php?pais=1
For over 10 years now the City of Turin has maintained a friendship and collaboration with Guatemala, in fact it undersigned a twinning agreement with the City of Quetzaltenango, which was approved by the City Council on March 13th 1997 and signed by the mayors of the two Cities in Turin on October 11th 1997.
The agreement commits both Cities and their citizens to work towards strengthening local institutions and the consolidation of the democratic process.
The twinning was suggested by Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Nobel Prize for Peace in 1992, and Honorary Citizen of Turin since 1991, after the 1996 Peace Agreements were signed.
Solidarity and friendship between the two Cities’ first citizens, together with the contribution of Turin’s non profit sector in Quetzaltenango and the twinning of the two regions, contribute to justify the existence of close relations between Turin and Quetzaltenango.