EL SALVADOR

It is bordered on the southwest by the Pacific Ocean, and lies between Guatemala and Honduras.

The territory covers 21,040 square km.

El Salvador's population numbers around 7 million people.

The capital city is San Salvador, which is also the nerve-centre of the country. Monuments are not many but noteworthy, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Theatre. It is really pleasant to stroll about the historic centre during the day, when it turns into a big market full of hawkers and street vendors everywhere: walking could be a bit hard, though, as this chaotic city has a very high unemployment rate, and people just manage to get along by selling anything. You will definitely be their ideal target. After shopping you can in any case relax yourselves at the beautiful botanical gardens of La Laguna.

San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Miguel.

International Airport El Salvador - El Salvador.

In ancient times El Salvador was inhabited by the Mayas and then by Aztec-descended Pipils. Spaniards invaded the country in 1525 and started to grow cotton and indigo plants. During the XVIII century the agricultural activities were thriving, but the whole territory was under the control of just 14 European families, while the natives were reduced to slavery. In 1821 El Salvador finally declared its independence from Spain - still being part of a confederation on states formed by El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua which was dissolved only 20 years later. In the XX century 95% of El Salvador's income came from coffee export but just 2% of the population could profit by such earnings. The situation got even worse after the stock-market crash in 1929 and the subsequent plummet in coffee prices. Discontent started to spread among people. In 1932 Augustín Farabundo Martí, a founder member of the Central America Socialist Party, headed a peasant and Indian uprising, which resulted in a real massacre fiercely performed by the army: 30,000 indigenous people and their supporters where murdered. Martí was jailed and shot, but his memory is still kept alive by the FMLN liberation movement (Frente Martí para la Liberación Nacional). In the 1960s the weak economy of the country combined with a high overpopulation rate led hundreds of thousand Salvadorans to emigrate abroad via Honduras. After years of mutual hostility, El Salvador invaded Honduras in 1969 and bombarded its airport. The conflict actually lasted only five days but the antagonism between the two states persisted for about ten years. During the 1970s, with no land to cultivate and hence no work, the population lived in extreme poverty. In 1972 the military forces arrested the elected President and gave power to their candidate. The guerrilla became worse and worse, and the Government reacted with the death squads, which murdered, tortured and kidnapped thousands of Salvadorans. In 1979 the Revolutionary Government Junta, formed by a group of military officers and civilian leaders, ousted the government, but the situation did not improve at all. Opposition parties decided therefore to join their forces within a Frente Democrático Revolucionario, the main group of which being the FMLN. The FMLN rebels took control of the north-eastern side of the country by destroying bridges, electrical lines and coffee plantations, and aimed at rushing the serious fall of the national economy. The Army reacted by decimating the population living in villages. In 1982 the power was taken by the extreme-right party ARENA (Nationalist Republican Alliance) and the death squads targeted the trade unionists and the agrarian reformers who were trying to get the land granted to the campesiños. In 1990, the UN began mediating negotiations between the government and the FMLN. In 1992, a compromise was signed and a ceasefire took effect. The FMLN became an opposition party and the Government agreed to dissolve the notorious death squads and to substitute them with a national police corps formed by civilians. Moreover, it agreed to redistribute the land among the population and to investigate into human rights violations. In 12 years of war an estimated 75,000 people were killed, but tragedies had not finished yet. On the 13th January 2001 a terrible earthquake destroyed the San Salvador's suburb of Las Calinas, a village mainly inhabited by middle-class people, and the nearby shanty towns. Such a natural disaster caused 1,200 dead people and 250,000 homeless. Nowadays, poverty and unemployment still strike the country - El Salvador is nevertheless trying to get back on top by liberalizing the economy and promoting tourism.

The 15th of September, the Independence Day (1821).

Presidential Republic- The country obtained the independence from Spain on the 15th September 1821.

The official language is Spanish, but Amerindians still speak nahuat and maya.

83% of the religious population is formed by Roman Catholics, the rest being Protestants.

Seven hours behind Italy. When in Italy the Daylight Saving Time is in use, the difference is 8 hours.

Italian citizens are not required to get a visa to visit El Salvador for a stay of up to 90 days: they just need a passport with at least 6-month remaining validity.

The country's monetary unit is the United State Dollar.

CHECK THE CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE

The main international credit cards are accepted in hotels, shops and restaurants.

The health care is rather mediocre. Medical costs and hospital expenses are extremely high and local chemist's shops do generally sell essential medicines. Before departure it is therefore advisable to underwrite an adequate insurance policy, covering medical expenses, possible emergency repatriation costs or patient transfer to another country.
As in any other tropical country the following diseases are present in endemic form: cholera, malaria, typhus, amoebiasis, dengue, tuberculosis, meningitis, hepatitis A, B and C, taenia, rabies, leptospirosis, diarrhoeal disorders, haemorrhagic dengue and bacterial or haemorrhagic conjunctivitis.

The climate divide into two seasons: the dry season, from November to April, and the wet season, from May to October. The average temperatures ranges from 22 to 28° C all year long. The dry season is therefore the ideal time to visit the country, if you want to avoid bringing an umbrella with you. The best periods for a holiday are the Christmas time, the Semana Santa (the Holy Week/Eastern) , and in the first of August - when you can attend to the yearly San Salvador festival.

CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST IN REAL TIME

The electric current is 110V, 60Hz. It is therefore indispensable to bring an adaptor with you.

To call Italy from El Salvador dial the country code for Italy 0039, then the Italian area code - including zero for fixed net numbers - and the number you wish to call.
To call El Salvador from Italy, dial the country code for 00503, followed by the area code and then the number you wish to call.
The mobile network covers almost the whole territory, but the international roaming works only partially.

There are no specific restrictions to take pictures or make amateur videos for private use. As in any other country, it is advisable to politely ask local people for their permission before taking pictures of them: they could also ask you money for that.

San Salvador offers you two markets for your shopping: Mercado Ex-Cuartel, with a great variety of handicrafts, hand-made fabrics and ceramics, and Mercado Central, where you may buy fruits, vegetables and spices of any kind.

The Salvadoran gastronomy is extremely rich in spices.
The most notable dish, that you can find anywhere, is the "pupusa", a corn tortilla filled with beans, cheese or fried pork rind (chicarrón) usually served with pickles and hot sauce.
Licuados (fruit drinks), coffee and gaseosas (soft drinks) are ubiquitous. If you prefer drinking spirits, taste the typical Tic-Tack and the Torito, made from sugar cane.

Radios mainly broadcast pop songs at the top of the U.S., Mexican and other Latin American charts. A small local band playing the canción popular (popular music) is getting famous though: drawing their inspiration from the country's news, such musicians try to revive the indigenous music traditions. Several bands perform live Latin American music in local clubs.

The Salvadoran nightlife cannot be compared to that of the most flourishing countries in Central America. Commercial Centers as Multiplaza offer a good choice of exclusive restaurants and clubs with live music (that is way this is the quarter of the millionaires' villas, no less).

The festival in celebration of El Salvador del Mundo, patron saint of El Salvador, occurs on the 6th of August, but its celebrations, including some fairs and a big parade, actually start some days before. The Carnival of San Miguel is among the most appreciated by the population and takes place in the last week of November. Roman Catholicism is the most widespread religion in the country, therefore festivals comply with the Catholic calendar. The Holy Week (Semana Santa), celebrated during the week before Eastern, and the festival of the Virgen de Guadalupe, on the 12th of December, are among the most important events. Moreover, every year each single town organizes its patron saint's day, celebrating it with colourful and intense processions. The traditional Columbus Day is commemorated on the 12th of October.

El Salvador is the only state in the world having the name of Jesus Christ (Salvador means the Saviour), its capital city (San Salvador) is dedicated to Him too, and the highest mountain is called Monte Cristo (the Mountain of Christ).
In the town of Ilobasco you may find the typical handicrafts called sorpresas - tiny, detailed scenes and figures enclosed in oval shaped shells with the dimensions of a walnut. The scenes usually depict innocuous events in daily village life, but an artist has recently added a new dimension by enclosing a naked couple in the throes of sexual passion. The local priest attempted to confiscate these sinful handicrafts but these have obtained such a big success that, once the buyer has chosen the product, the seller tightly wrap it in paper so that it cannot be distinguished.

1) The local markets in San Salvador

2) La Libertad, a beach located 37 km far from the capital, where it is possible to go surfing

3) The rainforest of Montecristo, famous for its pumas, toucans and barn owls.
4) Tazumal ruins

5) Volcan Izalco, a still active volcano

6) The Coatepeque lake

7) Ilobasco, a town famous for its ceramics
8) Isla Montecristo, an island 80 km far from San Salvador, not easy to reach

9) Museo de la Revolución Salvadoreña (Museum of the Salvadoran Revolution) in Perquin

10) The town of La Palma

Note: in small villages lodging is rather difficult but you may find an accommodation by residents if you try to find it in advance. Restaurants are not many and public transport does not always offer a regular service.

1) Trekking along the slopes of Boquerón, the volcano located right next to the capital city.

2) Excursions at the National Park of Cerro Verde, in the Montecristo rainforest and in the areas around La Palma and Perquín.

3) Surfing near El Sunzal and La Libertad beach, and in some areas near the Costa del Bálsamo.

4) Navigation around the islands located in the Fonseca Gulf, where dolphins and sea turtles swim along the seashores.

5) Rafting along Lempa, Paz and Torola river.

- Food and water
During your stay in the country it is advisable:
- to adopt the main hygienic precautions;
- not to use running water since it is polluted;
- be extremely careful in choosing and eating food, avoiding anything sold in the streets.

- Tips - Tips are not compulsory- but tipping the waiter, the taxi driver or any one else carrying your luggage will be highly appreciated.

- Safety - San Salvador is a high-risk country, where criminal acts are perpetrated mainly by armed young gangs, and robberies are frequent. It is advisable not to go around wearing jewels or bringing too much money, not to take a taxi at night, and in case of aggression not to offer resistance: this could imply danger for your physical integrity;

- Drugs - The local regulations on the use and traffic of drugs is extremely strict: drug trade, traffic or detention implies a 5 to 15 year imprisonment sentence.

-Taxi - Taxis are available, Nearly all cities in El Salvador offer a taxi service and tariffs can be negotiated. You may rent a car in the agencies located both in the airport and in San Salvador (driving on the right).

Embassies and Consulates in Italy:
Via Gualtiero Castellini,13 - Rome - Italy
Phone: 0039 06 8076 605
Fax: 0039 06 8079 726
E-mail: embasalvaroma@tiscali.it
www.embasalvaroma.com

Embassy of Italy in San Salvador
Calle La Reforma, 158 - Colonia San Benito - San Salvador
Phone: 00503 2223 4806/2223 5184
Fax: 00503 2298 3050