The Cathedral
Inaugurated on the 8th of December 1711, it is the largest of the Cathedrals built during colonial times in the country. Of the 16 original altars. Only four survive to our days. They are hand carved in wood and gold plated, some with exquisite paintings and others with artistic images of saints. Of the four altars that survive, the main altar is the most beautiful. The building has one belfry with 8 bells, which also houses the old Moorish clock on the third floor. The cathedral is currently undergoing a renovation project and is therefore closed. However, you might want to note that many of its colonial paintings are currently under exhibit at the Comayagua Museum. The renovation project, sponsored by the Spanish Cooperation Agency will take at least three years and is expected to renovate the building as close as possible to its original look when originally built.

The Cathedral Clock
A real piece of history. The clock was built by the moors during their occupation of Spain around the year 1,100. King Philip III donated it to the Comayagua Cathedral, which in those days was the Church of La Merced, It started functioning here in 1636, where it worked for 65 years, before being transferred to the new Catehdral in 1711. It is probably the oldest working clock in America, and rings its bells every 15 minutes. Notice the old roman IIII instead of the more modern IV on the clock!

The Church of La Merced
Built between 1550 and 1551 by the master Francisco Suarez, under the supervision of Fray Juan de Quintanilla, it is the oldest temple built of brick and stone in Honduras and possibly in Central America that is still standing. It was elevated to the category of Cathedral in 1561, thus becoming one of the first Cathedrals in Central America. Originally it had two belfries, however one was destroyed by an earthquake in 1774, which was the one where the old Moorish clock had been in. It has very fine and elaborate gold plated altars, as well as some very delicate images of different saints. The park in front of the church has just been remodeled and is truly a very pretty plaza. Plans call for developing a small souvenir market around it.

Church of La Caridad
Originally designated in honor to Santa Lucia, this temple was built towards the end of the XVI th century, and functioned as a church for the native Indians of the area. During the XVII th century, and due to the notable decrease in the local Indian population it was converted to a parish for Indians, blacks and other non white races who inhabited the area. In the back of the church remains of the only open air or Indian chapel in all of Honduras. It’s façade was rebuilt in 1640 and in 1735 bishop Guadalupe had the belfry built. In its interior you can see the famous Lord of the Donkey, whose image is used during the Palm Sunday celebrations in Comayagua. There is also an antique image of Saint Lucia.

Church and Convent of San Francisco
Founded in 1560 by the Anthonian religious order, it was originally named the Church of San Antonio, however, in 1575 the temple was under the jurisdiction of the Franciscan Friars, who arrived in Honduras sponsored by bishop Fray Jeronimo de Casilla. During the earthquake of 1774 part of the roof collapsed, and was replaced by a wooden structure. Its structure has suffered many changes throughout the years. The bell in its tower dates to 1460 and was brought from Alcala de Enares in Spain.

Caxa Real
The most important civil construction ever built in colonial Comayagua, there is unfortunately very little left of it. Earthquakes, fires and abandonment eventually destroyed what was the governors house and the coin mint. Only part of the façade is visible, as silent testimony of its past grandeur.

Colonial Museum
Located within the Episcopal Palace, which was built in 1735, this museum holds a very complete collection of colonial religious art including chalices, sculptures and jewels used to adorn the saints and paintings. Valuable historical documents, such as Francisco Morazan’s marriage certificate can be seen here. The museum is open to the public from Monday to Saturday from 9 to 12 and 2 to 4:30. On Sundays and holidays it is closed. Entrance fee is 15 lps. per person.

Museum of Anthropology and History
Recently reopened to the public, after the complete reconstruction of the old building that houses the museum and which served as the first presidential house during the early republican days of Honduras. The museum, which features many archaeological finds from sites around the valley, houses what is probably the most complete exhibit of Lenca culture in the world. After the capital was moved to Tegucigalpa, the building served various purposes, including army quarters, mail and telegraph headquarters and finally, during the Carias regime in the 1940s, became a museum. Today part of the building functions as a school where young men and women learn different trades, such as carpentry, blacksmith, masons, etc, as part of the effort to rebuild the city following the old building traditions. It was precisely these students that rebuilt the old house that now serves them as a school and houses the museum.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 am till 4:30 p.m. It is closed on Monday. The entrance fee is Lps. 10 for Honduran citizens and Lps 20 for foreigners.
Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the original colonial paintings from the Cathedral, that are here on a temporary exhibit while the wait for their turn to be renovated.