Motatán
Motatán is a town in the Motatán Municipality of Trujillo State, Venezuela. Located in a fertile valley at the foot of the Venezuelan Andes, the town is crossed by the river of the same name and is known for its fruit production, particularly pineapples, as well as its devotion to Saint Benedict of Palermo.
History
Motatán was founded in 1579 under the jurisdiction of the cabildo of Mérida and the corregimiento of Tunja, later part of the province of Mérida. Its name originates from the Timoto-Cuica indigenous expression Stimot–ustate–an, which has been translated as "I am the gate of the Timotes" (read as stmoustateán), the etymology that gave rise to the modern name Motatán. The phrase appears on the municipal coat of arms.
The name Motatán is first documented in 1562, when the relocation of the city of Trujillo from the valley of Boconó was being planned. A year later the city was established at La Guaca, the site where the prefabricated houses of Jalisco stand today. In 1802 Motatán was refounded at its present location by Antonio Nicolás Briceño and Jacobo Roth. On 15 June 1831 Motatán became part of the canton of Escuque, and on 8 December 1987 it was constituted as an autonomous municipality.
On 3 August 1895, Andrés Roncajolo, manager of the Gran Ferrocarril de La Ceiba railway, announced at an ordinary shareholders' assembly the completion of the rail line between Sabana de Mendoza and Motatán. That same year the railway station in Motatán, named "Estación Roncajolo" in honour of its promoter, was opened to the public.
The completion of the line consolidated the definitive route of the Gran Ferrocarril Trujillano to the port of La Ceiba, providing key infrastructure for transport and commerce in the region. The arrival of the railway significantly boosted the local economy, particularly the coffee sector. Important commercial houses such as Boulton and Martin-Ferrero opened branches in Motatán, increasing the exchange of agricultural products and strengthening the connection between the interior of the state and its maritime outlet. The railway operated until 1940, leaving a profound mark on the economic and social development of the municipality.
Geography
Motatán lies in the centre of Trujillo State, in a fertile valley crossed by the Motatán River at the foot of the Venezuelan Andes. The settlement is bordered by Jalisco to the north, Pampanito to the east, Valera to the south, and El Baño to the west. A notable local landmark is Cerro El Conquistado, with a maximum elevation of approximately above sea level.
Economy
The local economy is based on fruit production, particularly pineapples and sugarcane, as well as the manufacture of rum. The town also hosts a liquefied gas company, five concrete-block factories, a cement plant, and a sugar mill. The centre of the town has significant commercial activity, with numerous vegetable stalls, butcheries, lottery outlets and other small businesses lining its main thoroughfare, whose width facilitates vehicle parking. The town also has three supermarkets and a large number of small grocery stores known as bodegas.
The principal road is the Valera–Agua Viva highway, which crosses the town. Several secondary streets connect Motatán to the city of Trujillo and to Sabana Libre.
Culture
The town's motto is Tierra de la caña, piña y tambor ("Land of sugarcane, pineapple and drum"). Motatán is known for its devotion to Saint Benedict of Palermo, in whose honour the local population performs the traditional chimbángueles drum dances. Each September the town celebrates the Romería, a festival that brings together numerous local drum groups along with guest ensembles from other cities. Motatán also has a colonial-era church and a baseball stadium.
See also
- Motatán Municipality
- Trujillo (state)