For more than 3 centuries Comayagua, which is 71km (44 miles) south of Lago de Yojoa, was the capital of Honduras, until it was moved to Tegucigalpa in 1880. The city was founded in 1537 by the Spanish explorer Alonso de Cáceres, and it has, without a doubt, the strongest colonial history in the country. Traces of the city's prominent past can still be seen in the architecture of the palaces, churches, and squares -- all recently restored -- in the city center. For much of the year, the town is empty, seeing only a trickling of tourists, but during Semana Santa (Holy Week) the city comes alive for the most passionate religious celebration in the country.
