Sonsonate, El Salvador

Sonsonate (Spanish pronunciation: [sonsoˈnate]) is a city and municipality of El Salvador. Of which it is also its head. It has an estimated population of 72,158 inhabitants for the year 2013, Sonsonate is the second most important city in western El Salvador.[1]The town was founded under the name of "Villa del Espíritu Santo" on vacant lots near the town of los Izalcos in 1552.5 However, this foundation would be extremely ephemeral, because the following year, in 1553, this villa would be transferred to its current location, with the name of "Villa de la Santísima Trinidad de Sonsonate",[2] in a cocoa-producing area. With the passage of time, the town would be known simply by the name of Sonsonate. This name was taken from the Rio Grande or Sonsonate in the Nahuat language, which crosses it from north to south across the entire plain until it flows into the Pacific Ocean. This was the third Spanish population founded in the territories that currently constitute El Salvador, although, it is worth clarifying, during the entire period of Spanish domination of America, Sonsonate was the capital of the Mayor's Office of Sonsonate, a territory apart from the one administered by San Salvador. , today the capital of El Salvador.

Sonsonate Villa de la Santísima Trinidad de Sonsonate
City
Partial view of the city of Sonsonate from the top of the cemetery hill.
Flag Coat of arms
Sonsonate Location in El Salvador
Coordinates: 13°43′N 89°43′W
Country	El Salvador
Department	Sonsonate Department
Founded	1524
Area
• City	232.53 km2 (89.78 sq mi)
Elevation	246 m (807 ft)
Population  (2007)
• City	71,541
• Density	310/km2 (800/sq mi)
• Metro	110,501
Time zone	UTC-6

On the other hand, one of the main cultural attractions of this city is the celebration of Holy Week, which is considered part of the religious heritage of the country, thus recognized by decree of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador since 2013.[3][4]