Copán Ruinas

Copán Ruinas is a municipality in the Copán Valley of western Honduras, near the border with Guatemala. It became a municipality in 1893 and was granted city status on 21 February 1942. The modern town stands near the ruins of ancient Copán, which served as the political, civic and religious centre of the valley and became one of the leading cities of the Classic Maya period.

UNESCO inscribed the Maya Site of Copán on the World Heritage List in 1980. Its plazas, carved stone monuments and altars preserve evidence of the city’s public and ceremonial life. Among its most distinctive features is the Hieroglyphic Stairway, whose carved steps record the history of Copán’s ruling dynasty and contain the longest known Maya inscription.

The agreement was signed in February 2017 by Mrs. Vera Baboun, Mayor of Bethlehem, and Lic. Helmy Rene Giacoman Franco, Mayor of Copan Ruinas.

The two parties agreed to: Formalize the twinning agreement between the cities of Copan Ruinas and Bethlehem by establishing a cooperation program that includes various activities, such as the exchange of experiences that will contribute to a comprehensive program of cultural, historic, social and religious formation to all the societies of both cities, linking their historical past with the present. Also contributing to the actions of peacemaking in both cities through the development of joint programs that are practicable in addition to the solution of urban problems and the protection and conservation of the environment, highlighting and promoting the cultural heritage of their jurisdiction with the support and coordination of the respective state dependency.
Mrs. Baboun has then met Lic. Helmy Rene Giacoman Franco in Honduras in march 2017 to affirm the will to cooperate and make the agreement between Bethlehem and Copan Ruinas a model for deep and long-lasting ties.