Hurricane Mitch ravaged the nation's capital in 1998. Bridges and entire neighborhoods were wiped out, and historic buildings were damaged. Today, the city appears more or less normal to visitors, which isn't to say all is peaceful. Crime is a significant danger in Tegucigalpa and even more so in
Comayaguela, a neighborhing town that was also devastated by the hurricane.
The city has never offered a great deal to see or do, even in the best of times. However, if you do go, you may want to spend some time walking through the narrow, winding streets of Tegucigalpa's historic district. But do so only in the daytime and be careful even then. Los Dolores Church, another sight worth seeking out, is graced with an interesting enameled-ceramic facade. The dark and mysterious Church of San Francisco is noted for its wooden ceiling.
The National Palace of Congress is built on pillars so that the building itself provides a canopy over a plaza. On the ground level, four statues by Honduran sculptor Mario Zamora represent industry, education, agriculture and labor. The Republic Museum is housed in the Moorish-looking former Presidential Palace. It's a nice building, but we weren't that excited by the portraits and artifacts relating to recent political leaders.
Other sights include Morazan Plaza (where vendors hawk wares and people gather) and the National Museum of Anthropology (in the former official residence of the chief of state). The Church of the Virgin de Suyapa, on the outskirts of town, honors the patron saint of Honduras. In Comayaguela, you might want to visit San Isidro Market, but avoid walking around the city on your own, day or night.
There are several charming towns near Tegucigalpa. Valle de Angeles is stunning, especially on its central cobbled street, and is the official handicraft center of Honduras—known for its leather goods, in particular. Santa Lucia, hidden halfway up a mountain, is famous for its Christ figure donated by King Philip II of Spain. El Zamorano has an agriculture college, with gardens. A church in Ojojona has a painting by Murillo, and the town also contains a museum dedicated to Honduran painter Pablo Zelaya Sierra. La Tigra National Park is also near Tegucigalpa. Tegucigalpa is 110 mi/175 km southeast of San Pedro Sula.
