Guaitiao

Guaitiao El Guaitiao
Capital city and Province
Tablero at night Castillo del Arsenal del Guaitiao El Primordial Palacio de la Revolucion Passeo de la Taberna Saint Christina Cathedral Playa del Guarano
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname:  Faro del Sunádico (Lighthouse of the Sunadic)
Motto(s):  "Veni, vidi, vici" (Latin) "I came, I saw, I conquered"
Country	Montilla
Province	Guaitiao
Established	12 April 1511
Founded by	Tomas de Santillana
Government
• Body	Gobierno Provincial del Guaitiao
• Governor	Juan Esteban Illescas (PCM)
Area
• Total	755.53 km2 (291.71 sq mi)
Elevation	42 m (138 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,150,567
• Density	4,200/km2 (11,000/sq mi)
Demonym	Guaitian
Time zone	UTC+3 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+4 (MSST)
HDI (2020)	0.834 - very high
Website	www.elguaitiao.gov.lm

Guaitiao (/ɡwaitiao/) is the capital and largest city of Montilla. The administrative centre of Guaitiao Province, Guaitiao is the country's main port and commercial center. It is one of the most populous and largest cities of Caliandia and the Sunadic Ocean.

The city was founded by Canterian explorer Tomas de Santillana in the early 16th century, serving as an outpost until it was granted the status of capital of the Viceroyalty of Caliandia in 1592 by the Canterian monarchy. It was protected by walls and forts, considered some of the most significant in the Sunadic.

The city is the seat of the Montillan government since 1812, housing the People's National Assembly, various ministries and foreign diplomatic offices. The mayor of Guaitiao is Juan Esteban Illescas (PCM) since 2016. In 2020, the city/province had the second-highest income in the country. The city receives millions of tourists each year, being noted as a place of cultural and historical significance. Guaitiao has a tropical climate.

History

16th century

Tomas de Santillana, founder of Guaitiao and Canterian conquistador

The expedition led by Canterian explorer and conquistador Tomas de Santillana first landed in the region they called first called "Punta de los Vientos" in 1506, where they first set up the settlement of Sagrada Voluntad de la Bahía as a base of operations to explore the rest of the island. In the immediate weeks and months following the creation of the settlement, settlers came into contact with the Guarano tribe of the Guaitiao, some of those encounters were violent, and led to a military expedition of 10 men led by Tomas de Santillana into the jungle. Facing the tribe with overwhelming force, the elders surrendered and agreed to negotiate. In what Canterians settlers called the Treaty of Sagrada Voluntad, the natives agreed to join the settlement under the condition they cease hostilities against the settlers, convert to Christianity, and learn the Canterian language. The effort to Christianize the natives led to the creation of the monastery of Santa Cristina del Guaitiao in 1509, and in 12 April 1511, Tomas de Santillana and theologian Juan de Alcala declared the foundation of the village of Santa Cristina de la Sagrada Voluntad del Guaitiao.

Government

The city is administered by a city-provincial council, with a governor as chief administrative officer, thus Guaitiao functions as both a city and a province of Montilla. The city has little autonomy and is dependent upon the national government, particularly, for much of its budgetary and overall political direction.

Voters elect delegates to Municipal Assemblies in competitive elections every four years, and the Municipal Assemblies are responsible for each of the city's delegaciones (delegations). These assemblies elect the delegation presidents and vice presidents, which are equivalents to mayors and vice mayors in other provinces. There is only one political party, the Communist Party, but since there must be a minimum of two candidates, members of the Communist Party often run against each other, but candidates are not required to be members of the party. They are nominated directly by citizens in open meetings within each election district.

International relations

Twin towns and sister cities

Guaitiao is twinned with:

• Králowec, Morrawia (Since 1985)

Transport

Airports

Nicolás de Azcona International Airport in Finca Tabacalera

Guaitiao is served by the Nicolás de Azcona International Airport, located in the delegation of Finca Tabacalera, and is the main hub for the country's flag carrier Aerolíneas Montillanas. The airport is Montilla's main international and domestic gateway, it connects Guaitiao to the rest of Caliandia, Hiraethia, Olivacia, Thrismari and Thuadia and receives 7,821,485 passengers per year.

The city is also served by the Vuelo de Angeles Airport, which is a small airport to the west of city used for domestic and inter-island flights to Virrey Alverez, Isla Mallea, Sol y Luna, Isla de la Serpiente and others.