Santa Maria de Jesus () is a town with a population of 21,795 (2018 census), and a municipality in the department of Sacatepéquez about 10 km from the city of Antigua Guatemala. It is located under the slopes of Volcán de Agua. This town has a height of 2,070 meters above sea level. Its central square has a temple built in the seventeenth century with a carved entry arch. Spanish and Kaqchikel are spoken in this town.
History
thumb|200px|left|[[Volcan de Agua as seen from Santa María de Jesús in 1895. Photograph by Alfred Percival Maudslay.]]
There was no mention of it prior to the sixteenth century. One of the most important activities performed during the Hispanic period in this township was bringing ice gathered from the summit of Volcan de Agua to the city of Santiago. The central square has a temple built in the seventeenth century with a carved entry arch.
In January 1881, archeologist Alfred Percival Maudslay arrived to Santa María de Jesús to climb the Agua, which he did on foot from the villa, but unfortunately for him, once he reached the summit he could not take pictures as he had planned because the region was overcast and only the other volcanoes summits were visible. He returned on New Year's Day in 1892 and this time he was able to take the pictures from several places on the volcano.
Folklore
Among the folk dances presented in this municipality are the dance of "The Deer" and "Micos".
Notable citizens
- María Mercedes Coroy: born and raised in Santa María de Jesús, Coroy plays María in the internationally acclaimed movie Ixcanul Volcano. María is a 17-year-old girl who is forced into a marriage with the foreman of the coffee plantation where her father works.
- María Telón, Mayan actress
Climate
Santa María de Jesús has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen: Cwb).
See also
- List of places in Guatemala