Sights in Tegucigalpa
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Chiminike
Chiminike is Tegucigalpa’s excellent children’s museum. Situated about 7km south of downtown, it caters to kids of all ages, from a peaceful infant/nursing area to adolescent-level displays on Maya history. It’s refreshingly frank: the area about the human body has exhibits on the hows and whys of farting, vomiting, sneezing and body odor, while a crawl-through digestive tract starts at the mouth and ends with a slide through an oversized rectum.
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Museo Nacional de Historia Y Antropología Villa Roy
The Museo Nacional de Historia y Antropología Villa Roy is housed in the former home of ex-president Julio Lozano (near Calle Morelos), an opulent two-story mansion overlooking the city. Fascinating, if somewhat intense, the museum traces a chronological path through Honduran history, from independence, through the Liberal reform period, to modern-day Honduras. Displays are long and detailed (and in Spanish only). The section on the Vaccaro brothers and the rise of Standard and United Fruit companies will be interesting even to casual visitors, as few events have more deeply shaped Honduras’ past and present.
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Museo de Historia Natural
Just down the hill from the Basilica de Suyapa is the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH). Typically called Ciudad Universitaria, it houses the Museo de Historia Natural in the biology building. The museum, however, is a serious downer despite the upbeat listing in Honduras Tips.
It houses a sad collection of stuffed birds and animals, many with eyes missing, and feathers and fur coming off in clumps. Only the whale skeleton and petrified dung display are remotely memorable, but still not worth the effort, even for kids.
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Basílica de Suyapa
The most important church in Tegucigalpa, and therefore in Honduras, is the Gothic Basílica de Suyapa.La Virgen de Suyapa is the patron saint of Honduras; in 1982 a papal decree made her the patron saint of all Central America. Construction of the basilica, which is famous for its large stained-glass windows, began in 1954; finishing touches were still being added when we visited.
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Galería Nacional de Arte
Located in what was once a 17th-century convent, the Galería Nacional de Arte is well worth a visit. Seven exhibition rooms house modern artwork, colonial-era paintings and religious artifacts. There is also a small exhibit of pictographs found in Honduras – all replicas – but interesting nonetheless. Most signage is in English and Spanish.
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Centro de Documentación Historica
The Centro de Documentación Historica is a museum tracing the history of Honduras from independence to the present. The displays are interesting enough, but other museums cover the same ground just as well (sometimes better). The building housing them is the real gem, having served as the Casa Presidencial (Presidential Palace) from 1920 until 1992.
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Iglesia Los Dolores
Iglesia Los Dolores, northwest of the cathedral, is worth a visit, with a plaza out front and religious art inside. On the front of Los Dolores are figures representing the Passion of Christ - his unseamed cloak, the cock that crowed three times - all crowned by the more indigenous symbol of the sun.
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Iglesia La Merced
An 18th-century church, Iglesia La Merced, faces Parque La Merced. In 1847, the convent of La Merced was converted to house Honduras' first university; the national gallery was established there in 1996. The well-restored building is itself a work of art, and is as impressive as the paintings inside.
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Parque Naciones Unidas el Picacho
On the north side of Tegucigalpa is Parque Naciones Unidas El Picacho, established to commemorate the UN’s 40th anniversary. Besides excellent views of the city, there’s a soccer field where games are held on Sunday, and a somewhat decrepit zoo.
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Museo Para la Identidad Nacional
Tegucigalpa’s newest museum is the ambitious Museo para la Identidad Nacional, which is intended to encapsulate the whole of Honduran history, from pre-Colombian civilization to the present day. It still hasn’t achieved that to great end. Admission costs and hours vary.
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Parque La Paz
It is not recommended you visit Parque La Paz, a wooded hill and park south of the Estadio Nacional. Though the views are impressive, it is a notorious hang-out of delinquent kids, many hooked on glue sniffing, and assaults on visitors are common.
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Iglesia El Calvario
West of the cathedral is Parque Herrera, which seems to attract a somewhat less savory crowd, but the 18th-century Iglesia El Calvario is worth a peek, as is the Teatro Nacional Manuel Bonilla, if it happens to be open when you pass by.
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Parque La Concordia
A couple of blocks west of the Museo Nacional de Historia y Antropología Villa Roy is Parque La Concordia, a mellow park full of reproductions of the Maya ruins at Copán, including a pyramid and many stone carvings.
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Museo del Hombre Hondureño
The Museo del Hombre Hondureño displays Honduran art, mostly contemporary work. Admission price and hours vary: it is often closed, opening mainly for special events or private parties.
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Museo Histórico Militar
Not worth your time is the Museo Histórico Militar, which was closed when we visited but, when open, could barely rustle up a few uniforms and rusty weapons.
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Honduran Institute of Anthropology & History
The Honduran Institute of Anthropology & History operates the museum and has its headquarters and research library near the museum entrance.
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Iglesia de San Francisco
Three blocks east of the cathedral is the Parque Valle, with the Iglesia de San Francisco, the first church in Tegucigalpa, founded in 1592 by the Franciscans.
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