Panchimalco

Planes de renderos
Municipality
Seal
Planes de renderos Location in El Salvador
Coordinates: 13°37′N 89°11′W / 13.617°N 89.183°W / 13.617; -89.183
Country	El Salvador
Department	San Salvador Department
Area
• Total	30 sq mi (90 km2)
Elevation	1,870 ft (570 m)
Population  (2007)
• Total	41,260

Panchimal is a town in the San Salvador department of El Salvador.

Panchimalco ("The Place of Flags and Shields," from the

Panchimalco was founded by the pre-Columbian Toltec people who may have emigrated to the area following the fall of their empire in Tabasco in what is now Mexico.^[6] During the Spanish conquest of the territory, the area was called "El Fuerte" (the fortress) because of the concave shape of the land that gave the indigenous population an advantage.^{[citation needed]}

The Spanish established Panchimalco as a village, and built its famous colonial church, one of the most important historical monuments in El Salvador. Its original construction date, circa 1725, make it the oldest surviving colonial structure in El Salvador.

Nearby attractions include the town of Los Planes de Renderos, a lookout post where there are views of San Salvador and the valley; the "Puerta del Diablo" (Devil's Gate) rock formation and Balboa Park, a green retreat also overlooking San Salvador. All three are located within a municipal zone also called Panchimalco, though locals interpret Panchimalco to mean only the historic old town. The Panchimalco zone comprises 14 hamlets or cantons: El Divisadero, Pajales, Panchimalquito, Las Crucitas, San Isidro, Los Troncones, Azacualpa, Amayón, Los Palones, Los Planes de Renderos, el Guayabo, El Cedro, Quezalapa, Loma and Media.^[1]

Panchimalco was named as among the ten top tourist sites in El Salvador by the Confederation of Latin American Tourist Organizations.^{[citation needed]}

References