There are two main theories as to the derivation of the name "Colima" (and Coliman, its old form), a word of nahuatl origin.
First and most widespread is a combination that translates into "place in the hands of our grandfather " (or forefathers, also interpreted as the volcano).
The second interpretation is that of "place where the water (or river) twists (or bends)"
Known as the "City of Palms", Colima was founded in 1527 as Villa San Sebastián de Colima. It is a quaint city with some beautiful colonial architecture and monuments.
In our travels, we found the City of Colima to be one of the cleanest we'd seen - and one of the only Mexican cities in which we saw such provisions as parking for the disabled on public streets.
Things to see in Colima City:
The Rey Colimán Monument, erected in 1955. King Coliman defended his people against attack by the Spanish. A work by sculptor Juan F. Olaguibel.
Teatro Hidalgo (Hidalgo Theater) - Built on property where previously Father Hidalgo had resided, the construction of the Hidalgo Theater was begun in 1871. Upon its completion in 1883, Governor Francisco Santa Cruz renamed it the Santa Cruz Theater, and name which it held for the following 6 decades. Its original name was restored to it in 1941, when it was virtually destroyed by an earthquake and thereafter reconstructed once again.
Palacio de Gobierno
Built in the 19th C. major restauration after damage sustained during the 1932 and 1941 earthquakes. Its clock, dating from 1841, was imported from Germany. In the Palace's interior visitors can view murals by muralist Jorge Chavez Carrillo, painted in 1953 in honor of Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla for the bicentennary of his birth. The mural depicts the most important players and events in Mexican history.
The Cathedral of Colima - Consecrated in 1894 after its total reconstruction from an original edifice of wood and palm, the Cathedral's cupola and bell towers are the highest structure in the state.
Jardín Libertad (Liberty Garden) - town square/park in city center across from the Government Palace. Arbored walkways, a central kiosk, fountains and elaborate ironwork decorate this very pleasant public space in the center of town. The square is surrounded by three arcades: Portal Medellín, built in 1859; Portal Morelos and Portal Hidalgo, dating from 1810.
Parque de La Piedra Lisa (Park of the Slippery Stone) - legend has it that any outsider who slips upon the stone will definitely come to reside in Colima
Museum of Regional History (click to visit) - Portal Morelos No. 1, on the plaza.
The Maria Ahumada Museum of Occidental Cultures
El Chanal - archeological zone located some 4.5 kms. north of Colima. First explored by archeologist Vladimiro Rosado Ojeda in 1945, the site extends over some 140 hectares on both sides of the Rio Verde and was probably the largest prehispanic settlement in the state. It comprises ceremonial plazas, altars, pyramids and several ball courts. Particularly prevalent on the site are figures of the Rain God, Tlaloc. Characteristics of artifacts made of clay and obsidian with the use of metals indicate that the inhabitants of El Chanal were in some way related to Tula.
Colonial Mexico 2 Ed: A Guide to Historic Districts and Towns
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