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gothic. Its reconstruction began in 1905. Its status of
parish was changed to that of Cathedral by Papal bull.
Archaeological Ruins
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Top 5 Itineraries.
El Salvador has interesting Mayan archaeological
sites. Many people are unaware that the Mayan
empire spread all the way to El Salvador. Among the
principal ruins of the region are:
Tazumal Ruins
Tazumal uins are located in the core of the city of
Santa Ana’s Cathedral (Mitur)
Tazumal maya arqueolical site
Chalchuapa in the Department of Santa Ana, 80
kilometers west of the capital. Tazumal is within
the Chalchuapa archaeological area which extends
approximately 10 square kilometers and where are
also located the archeological sites of Pampe, Casa
Blanca, El Trapiche and Las Victorias. Chalchuapa
was the site where the Copan, Teotihuacan and
Toltec influence was present.
Tazumal comprises a series of ruins that were the
scenery of an important and sophisticated Mayan
settlement between the years 100-1200 AD and that
was built by the Pocomans. The ruins include water
drainage system, burials, pyramids, palaces and
utensils. Tazumal was occupied for a long time 100
AD until 1200 AD, although its main development
corresponds to the Classic period (200-900 AD).
After 900 AD the Toltec style pyramid was built and a
possible ball court among others.
San Andrés Ruins
San Andrés is a pre-Hispanic site in El Salvador
which its long occupation started around 900 AD
as an agricultural town in the Zapotitan valley at the
Department of La Libertad. This early settlement was
abandon around the year 250 due to an enormous
eruption of Lake Ilopango; it was resettled in the V
century along with many other sites in the valley of
Zapotitan. Between 600 and 900 AD, San Andrés
was the capital of a Mayan dominium with seniority
over other settlements on the Zapotitan Valley.
How to get to San Andrés Ruins from the capital San
Salvador: the road that leads to Santa Ana (toward
Guatemalan border) toward Chalchuapa passes
through the entrance of San Andrés Archeological
site. San Andrés is located to the right hand side.