Santa Ana Day in El Salvador

Santa Ana is a Salvadoran city, head of the municipality, department, district and seat of the diocese of the same name; and is the main city of the western zone, and second largest city in El Salvador, located 64 km from the state capital, San Salvador.

The municipality of Santa Ana has an estimated population of 264 091 inhabitants for the year 2013, occupying the second place in population. For its administration it is divided into 34 cantons and 312 hamlets, while the city itself is divided into 12 neighborhoods and several colonies.

The town celebrates its patron saint festivities during the "Fiestas Julias", from July 17 to 26, in honor of Mrs. Santa Ana, patron saint of the department.

Although there are archaeological records dating from the pre-classic period, the city was founded around the v or vi century, by the Mayans, to be later occupied by the Nahuas, who gave it the name of Sihuatehuacan. It was conquered by the Spaniards during the sixteenth century, and later belonged to the Mayor of San Salvador and then to the Intendancy of San Salvador. It has been part of the Salvadoran State, both in its federal and independent stage.