Villahermosa

In 1598, King Philip II of Spain named the city "Villa Hermosa of San Juan Bautista", and granted it use of a royal shield on its coat of arms, which is still in use today. During the city's long history, its name has changed many times. In 1916, governor Francisco J. Múgica decreed to eliminate the name of "San Juan Bautista", leaving only "Villahermosa". Throughout the city's history, Villahermosa has had many names: Villa Carmona (1564): name given by Diego de Quijada when he founded the city. San Juan Bautista (1565): in honor of the city's patron saint. Villa Felipe II: in honor of the Spanish monarch. Villa Hermosa de San Juan Bautista (1598): title granted by King Felipe II of Spain. San Juan de Villahermosa (1604): name given by the Viceroy Marquis de Montesclaros in honor of Juan de Grijalva, discoverer of Tabasco. …

Founded officially on 24 June 1564 by the Spanish explorer Diego de Quijada on the banks of the Grijalva River under the name of Villa Hermosa, in 1826 the village was raised to the rank of city under the name of San Juan Bautista de la Villa Hermosa (Saint John the Baptist). During the French intervention in Mexico, French troops occupied the city in 1863. In 1916, the governor of Tabasco, Francisco J. Múgica, ordered the restoration of the city's name to Villahermosa. The Villa Carmona was later christened San Juan Bautista and was divided into neighborhoods. The oldest of them was the neighborhood of Esquipulas, on the ridge of the hill of Esquipulas and around the Church of Our Lord of Esquipulas, with his image of Christ black, which had been brought from Esquipulas, Guatemala. …

Villahermosa is located approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of the Gulf Coast and about 904 kilometres (562 mi) southeast of Mexico City. The municipality is in the center of Tabasco, which adjoins the northern municipalities of Nacajuca and Centla, and the southern municipalities of Jalapa, Teapa and the south-central municipality of Macuspana. It also borders the northwestern part of the State of Chiapas. The geographical coordinates of the municipality are north 18-20', south 17-43' north latitude; 92-35', west 93-15' west. The urban area of Villahermosa occupies 61,177 km2 while the territorial extension of the municipality occupies 1,612 km2, which corresponds to 6.9% of the total state territory, occupying 7th place on the municipal extension scale. …

Although Mexico does not recognize an official religion, most of the population in Villahermosa is Roman Catholic (64.8%) with the Protestant religion coming in second (25.4%).

La Venta Museum-Park, which includes a small zoo, has the most important collection of Olmec artifacts. Other sights include: Esperanza Iris Theatre. Plaza de Armas (main square) Zona Luz (city centre) Catedral del Señor de Tabasco (Cathedral of the Lord of Tabasco). Tomás Garrido Canabal Park La Venta (site museum) Yumká (zoo where animals roam freely). La Choca Park. Parque Tabasco - a 'must see' during the Feria festivities. Papagayo Children's Museum. Musevi

The city is served by several national air carriers. Its airport, the Villahermosa International Airport, is operated by Aeropuertos del Sureste de México (ASUR) and has recently seen a significant expansion. This airport was the destination for the 1929 Mexicana inaugural flight. The city is the closest destination to the ancient Mayan ruins at Palenque. Airlines providing flights to/from the airport are: Aeromar, Aeroméxico, United, Viva, and previously by the defunct Mexicana de Aviación and Interjet.