Chichicastenango

Famous for its market, Chichicastenango or "Chichi" attracts thousands of visitors annually who come to shop and observe the fascinating traditions of this town founded by the Quiché Indians. The name means "place of nettles" referring to a thorny plant that grows in the area. Every Thursday and Sunday the plaza is converted into a bustling colorful market packed with vendors selling traditional handicrafts, including hand-woven textiles, hand-carved masks, ceramics, jewelry and much more. Visitors to Chichicastenango can see in the plaza two religious important sites of worship for the town residents: Santo Tomás church, built in 1540 over the base of a pre-Hispanic archaeological site and the church of El Calvario, both represent a splendid example of the colonial architecture in the highlands.

The steps of these churches are a gathering point for Maya priests, and penitents who burn native copal incense before entering the building to kneel on the flagstone floor strewn with pine needles. In Santo Tomás church was also found the manuscript of the Popol Vuh, Guatemala's greatest literary work; written by an anonymous Maya author shortly after the Spanish conquest, it contains the legends and history of the Maya-Quiché people. Another important religious monument, a stone carved figure with human features known as Pascual Abaj, is found in small, pine-covered hill just a few minutes walk from the churches; here worshippers burn candles and incense near the stone deity while praying for good crops and health.