The small nation of Honduras in Central America has a big history, with impressive historical monuments left both by the pre-Hispanic and colonial inhabitants of the area. These monuments represent a millenia of Honduran history and include everything from Mayan pyramids to the churches and fortresses the Spanish built to strengthen their control over the area. For the tourist, many of these sites are now open the public, and some are even part of archaeological parks and museums.

The Ruins of Copan

While it lacks the towering pyramids of other Mayan cities, the beauty of Copan is in its details. The ruins are especially famous for the intricate artwork of the stone carvings on altars and buildings. One prime example is a ceremonial stairway to one of the site's palaces, with over 1,800 individual glyphs -- the longest known Mayan inscription. The site also includes a number of plazas, royal palaces, ball courts and low pyramids. Most travellers stay in the quaint colonial city of Copan Ruinas a few miles from the archaeological park, open from early morning to sunset for a small entrance fee.

Santa Barbara de Trujillo

The Spanish built a series of fortresses along the Caribbean coast of Honduras to deter invasions by other European powers and protect outgoing shipments of gold, silver and indigo. In the town of Trujillo, the large fortress of Santa Barbara dates back to the 17th century. Today, the fortress is open to visitors and includes a small museum of weaponry and archaeological artifacts. For an added historical curiosity, a stone marker on the site commemorates the spot where William Walker, the U.S. adventurer who invaded neighboring Nicaragua, was executed. Tourists pay an entrance fee for full access to the grounds, including the panoramic view of the coast from the fortress's towering walls.

San Fernando de Omoa

The fortress of San Fernando in the city of Omoa was built between 1759 and 1775 at the behest of King Fernando VII of Spain. Four years after construction was finalized, the coast was invaded by the English, who took the fortress after two days of battle in 1779. Fortunately, the building survived the fighting largely intact. For a fee, tourists can visit the fortress's 31 rooms, view the small museum and admire the cannons and masonry facing the coast.

Churches of Comayagua

Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, has several notable buildings, but the city's hectic pace drives most travelers 50 miles northwest to Comayagua. The city was the capital of Honduras until 1880 and holds some of the country's finest examples of colonial architecture. Especially notable is the Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepcion, a large church combining baroque, romanesque and neoclassical styles that was built between 1685 and 1715. The clock in the church tower is the oldest in the Americas and one of the oldest in the world, built by the Moors for the Alhambra and donated to the town by Phillip II of Spain. Also of note are the smaller colonial churches of Nuestra Senora de la Merced -- the city's first, completed in 1558 -- and Nuestra Senora de la Caridad -- completed in 1730 and a good example of high colonial baroque architecture. The churches are open to the public.

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