Chiapa de Corzo

Chiapa de Corzo is a small city and municipality situated in the west-central part of the Mexicanstate of Chiapas. Located in the Grijalva River valley of the Chiapas highlands, Chiapa de Corzo lies some 15 km (9.3 mi) to the east of the state capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

It was originally inhabited by the Soctona ethnic group and its name at that time was Soctón Nandalumí. The Soctona were the only ones who didn’t surrender during the Spanish conquest, resisting several armed expeditions until the campaigns of Pedro de Alvarado when they were defeated and almost exterminated.

The first Spanish attempt to conquer the area was led by Luis Marin in 1524 and it ended in failure. Diego Mazariegos commanded a second invasion in 1528 and his force finally succeeded in overcoming fierce resistance. Facing defeat, many of the Indians chose death instead of surrender. As the Spanish closed in, many jumped to their deaths in the Canon del Sumidero.

In colonial times, Chiapa de Corzo was the indigenous capital of Chiapas, which is why it was called the Chiapa of the Indians, as opposed to the “Chiapa of the Spaniards”, San Cristóbal de las Casas, which was inhabited almost entirely by criollos. Over time, this apartheid system has been disappearing, and the city has a much greater mixture of ethnicities now.

Today, the city is visited by a large number of tourists who come to see the nearby Cañon del Sumidero, the Pila (a Mudéjar-style fountain built by the Spanish in the 16th century) and other sites.