Visiting Colima
The name of Colima comes from the Nahuatl word “Colliman” which was used for the ancient kingdom or domain: Colli, meaning hill, volcano or grandfather and Maitl which means hand or domain. That means: “Place conquered by our grandparents” or “Place where the Old God or Fire God dominates”, referring to the volcano
The region where the State of Colima is settled was the headquarters of many prehispanic cultures that flourished in Western Mexico.
At the beginning of the 16th century, the Purépechas or Tarascos tried to conquer the territory of the Tecos all the way up to the Tzacoalco nitrate deposits; although, the Hueytlatoani Colimotl defeated them during the well known “Nitrate War”. When they won the war against the Purépechas, the Tecos began their conquest of territories like Sayula, Zapotlán and Amula, transforming the kingdom of Colima in a predominant group.
After the Spanish took over Tenochtitlán, and having subordinated the Purépechas, they penetrated into these territories and were defeated by the Tecos. This is the reason why Hernán Cortés sent another expedition led by Gonzalo de Sandoval. They defeated the Tecos in the Paso de Alima and in the Palenque de Tecomán.
Once the Conquest was consummated, Gonzalo de Sandoval founded the Village of Colima, in Caixtlán on July 25th 1523. With this, the Second Western town was established in the New Spain. On January 20th 1527 the prevailing unhealthy conditions determined that the Village should be transferred to the place where it is now located In 1524, Don Francisco Cortés arrived in Colima as the Mayor of the New Village. In this way, the Colonial era began in the province of Colima, which dimensions increased with the time thanks to the subjugation of the different villages from the north coast. In this time, its coasts also became very important. In 1533 Don Hernando de Grijalva discovered the Revillagigedo Archipelago. During the 300 years of Spanish domain, the Tzalahua Port became a defense site and an important commercial center.
During the War of Independence, Colima City was taken by the insurgents at the end of 1810 without finding any resistance and it was recovered by the realists in 1811. The Constitution of 1857 raised Colima to the Category of Free and Sovereign State.
The name of Colima comes from the Nahuatl word “Colliman” which was used for the ancient kingdom or domain: Colli, meaning hill, volcano or grandfather and Maitl which means hand or domain. That means: “Place conquered by our grandparents” or “Place where the Old God or Fire God dominates”, referring to the volcano
The region where the State of Colima is settled was the headquarters of many prehispanic cultures that flourished in Western Mexico.
At the beginning of the 16th century, the Purépechas or Tarascos tried to conquer the territory of the Tecos all the way up to the Tzacoalco nitrate deposits; although, the Hueytlatoani Colimotl defeated them during the well known “Nitrate War”. When they won the war against the Purépechas, the Tecos began their conquest of territories like Sayula, Zapotlán and Amula, transforming the kingdom of Colima in a predominant group.
After the Spanish took over Tenochtitlán, and having subordinated the Purépechas, they penetrated into these territories and were defeated by the Tecos. This is the reason why Hernán Cortés sent another expedition led by Gonzalo de Sandoval. They defeated the Tecos in the Paso de Alima and in the Palenque de Tecomán.
Once the Conquest was consummated, Gonzalo de Sandoval founded the Village of Colima, in Caixtlán on July 25th 1523. With this, the Second Western town was established in the New Spain. On January 20th 1527 the prevailing unhealthy conditions determined that the Village should be transferred to the place where it is now located In 1524, Don Francisco Cortés arrived in Colima as the Mayor of the New Village. In this way, the Colonial era began in the province of Colima, which dimensions increased with the time thanks to the subjugation of the different villages from the north coast. In this time, its coasts also became very important. In 1533 Don Hernando de Grijalva discovered the Revillagigedo Archipelago. During the 300 years of Spanish domain, the Tzalahua Port became a defense site and an important commercial center.
During the War of Independence, Colima City was taken by the insurgents at the end of 1810 without finding any resistance and it was recovered by the realists in 1811. The Constitution of 1857 raised Colima to the Category of Free and Sovereign State.
Colima’s Ministry of Tourism, Administrative Complex of the State of Colima. Address: Tercer Anillo Periferico esq. Libramiento Ejército Nacional, Zona Norte, Building B, Floor 1, Colima, Colima. Mexico. Zip code: 28010, Phone number +52 (312)316-20-21, Fax: +52 (312) 316-20-27. E-mail turiscol@correo.col.gob.mx