San Cristóbal de las Casas

San Cristóbal de las Casas is a city in the central highlands of state of Chiapas, Mexico. It is located in the Sierra Madre Mountains at 16.75°N 92.63°W, elevation 2100m. In 2003 the estimated population was 121,100 people.

The city was formerly known as "San Cristóbal"; the "de las Casas" was added in honor of Bartolomé de Las Casas, a Spanish priest who fought for the rights of the Native Americans. The city is well known for its beautiful colonial era architecture.

The city is located near the Tzotzil Maya communities of Chamula , and Zinacantán , and a half-day busride from the Classic Maya ruins of Palenque, and is therefore a popular base of operations for European tourists looking to experience ancient and modern Maya culture.

In 1994 the Zapatista Army of National Liberation used San Cristobal as one of the four cities to start its revolution from. Now, ten years later, the traces of the Zapatistas are still omnipresent (e.g., graffiti, dolls, posters, t-shirts) in the city.

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