• United States!

    United States: Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Go Now!

    United States
    Explore the vast openness and wildlife found roaming in the western United States, including Theodore Roosevelt National Park (pictured) in North Dakota. Begin Your Journey!

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    Trinidad & Tobago: Beautiful Coastline. Go Now!

    Trinidad & Tobago
    These Caribbean islands mix Indian, African, and European cultures alongside beautiful beaches. Go Now!

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    St. Kitts & Nevis: Nevis Island. Go Now!

    St. Kitts & Nevis
    This island nation mixes aspects of European, African, and Caribbean culture... not to mention incredible beaches. Go Now!

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    Honduras: Children. Go Now!

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    The original banana republic, Honduras has made a name for itself with the banana trade; however foreign influences have also vastly altered the culture. Go Now!

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    Mexico: Sunrise over the mountains in Puerto Vallarta. Go Now!

    Mexico
    Although many people just go for the beaches, Mexico offers impressive mountain vistas (pictured in Puerto Vallarta), great food, and historic ruins that compete with the best in the world. Begin Your Journey!

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    Barbados: Pier on the beach. Go Now!

    Barbados
    This Caribbean island has hints of British culture, but is wholly Caribbean as well. Explore Barbados!

Architecture of El Salvador

WARNING: Violence is common in El Salvador, please read this travel warning before going!

Among the largest and most impressive of the ancient Mayan monuments in modern day El Salvador is Tazumal. These early stone structures are the best preserved Mayan ruins in the country and some of the furthest south of the Mayan ruins. Another interesting sight is the city of Joya de Ceren, which was covered in volcanic lava, allowing people to see simple historic architecture and the daily life of the people at the time (600s AD), although there are few monumental buildings.

Few changes to the architecture arrived until the Spanish colonized the region in the 1500s. It was the Spanish that increased the use of adobe in houses and other buildings, but they didn't put much money into the region as nearby Guatemala and Panama were their bases and El Salvador received little attention or money to build.

Of the Spanish colonial buildings they did receive, most are in San Salvador. The Spanish had the tendency to build their colonies how they built in Spain so the churches of San Salvador were in the Spanish style, many of which have heavy use of adobe and are similar to Baroque churches in Spain and elsewhere in Europe. The houses though were generally made of adobe in a local fashion and this trend continues today to a great degree.

Through the 1900s and 2000s most new structures continued to be built in the capital and nearly all of the country's modern and post-modern architecture can be found in San Salvador today.

This page was last updated: July, 2012