Antigua Guatemala

How to get there

Antigua Guatemala is located 45 km from Guatemala City. To get there, take the Pan-American Highway (CA-1) to San Lucas Sacatepéquez (km 30), and turn south for 15 km.

Antigua Guatemala is a colonial city full of architecture and history. It is located in the Panchromatic valley, approximately 30 miles from Guatemala City. It was the third capital city of Guatemala and the Kingdom of Central America during colonial times. The city was established in 1542 and received the title of "Noble and loyal city of the knights of Saint James in the Kingdom of Guatemala" Antigua was the first planned city of America. It was designed following a grid pattern, oriented from North to South, beginning with the central park. As in most colonial cities, the main political, economical,religious, and social buildings were placed around the park. The Cathedral  (built between 1543 and 1680) stands on the eastern side of the park, the town hall is located to the north, the General Captains' palace is on the Southern side, and the commercial hall is on the western side. The rest of the city grew around this main plaza.
The central park is the social center and one of the most beautiful gardens in the city. The "Sirens fountain", sculpted by famous architect Diego de Porras, occupies the central portion of the park. Any time of the day is great to enjoy the nice shade sitting in any of the park's benches, while listening to the relaxing sound of the fountain´s water.
The cathedral was an impressive building which covered almost a whole block, but it was destroyed by a series of earthquakes. What is actually known as Antigua´s Cathedral is only the facade and one rebuilt chapel (Saint Joseph's ) from the original building. It is a good idea to spend some time inside this church and the others in Antigua in order to appreciate the beautiful sculptures and paintings. During daytime one may visit the Cathedral ruins, this visit allows one to picture the immense proportions of the original temple and to visit the cold catacombs.
The  beautiful buildings of the Colonial Museum and the Colegio Tridentino show their elaborate rock sculpted facades across the street from the Cathedral. The General Captain´s palace is a two story building which has a double archery facade. During colonial times it held the offices of the representatives of the Spanish Crown, today it holds the offices of the local government. The town hall was used as a jail for some time, today it holds offices and two museums. The most outstanding traits of Antigua´s architecture are the fountains, steelworks, chimneys, windows, churches, and homes. Builders in Antigua used wide columns  and walls in an attempt to prepare for imminent earthquakes in a rather unstable land. However, the strong  Santa Marta earthquakes in 1773 destroyed most of the city and forced it to be moved to its actual location. A decree forced all inhabitants to move to the new city, however many disobeyed, staying in the ancient (antigua) Guatemala, which explains the name of the city. The style of Antigua´s houses deserves special attention. The elaborate wooden doors with sculpted rock frames are decorated with metallic elements, which originated in the big nail heads necessary for the woodworks. Windows are the outer focal point with outstanding wooden and metallic balconies. Inside the house, the different environments are located around a central patio. The most outstanding element in the kitchen is the octagonal chimney, which has become an icon of Antigua´s architecture.
Water plays a predominant role in the houses; gargoyles, "búcaros" (fountains attached to a wall), fountains, and sinks let water run through different parts of the house. The beauty and importance of Antigua have been recognized in many occassions: in 1944 it was declared National Monument, in 1965 it was named Monument of America, and in 1979 it was recognized as a world Heritage site by UNESCO. The beautiful Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango volcanoes are silent guardians of Antigua´s streets and building which are full of history and legends.

Center of Operations

Architectural beauty, as well as the relaxed colonial environment are among Antigua's main attributes. However, tourists have discovered other characteristics which have turned this colonial city into one of the favorite lodging and operations centers. Antigua offers a great variety of tour operators and transportation services, as well as a great array of lodging options, which include: large luxury hotels, fine inns, budget lodging, and stays with local families. Dining options are almost unlimited fo those staying in or visiting the city; the menu includes international cuisine, typical food, great bakery, and delicious coffee. At the same time, Antigua benefits from a great accessibility which places it in the middle of the country: it is close to highland destinations such as Lake Atitlán and Quetzaltenango, it is on the way to the Pacific Coast for those who want to visit Monterrico, Las isas or Iztapa, and it is one step away from Guatemala Cityfor those traveling by airplane and for those heading towards Petén and the Caribbean.

Churchs and Convents

Antigua has a great number of churches, despite being a relatively small city. Since it was very important during colonial times, most of the religious orders established their headquarters in the city. All of the churches in Antigua were built for the convents, thus all of the convents are older than the churches. The only church not built for a convent was the Cathedral. Some churches withstood the earthquakes, some others were rebuilt, and some others were left almost completely in ruins. Most of the churches are richly decorated on the outside, while most of the interior decorations were moved along with the city to the new capital. The convent of Santa Clara is unique, since the facade of its church does not face the street, but the interior of the convent. The nuns of this convent never went out to the street, so they walked from the convent directly into the church, resulting in this strange setup. The ruins of the convent are worth a visit in order to admire, among other things, the beautiful Serlian style columns adorning the church's facade. The "Tanque La Unión", a public washing facility, is located across the street from the convent; this place is the setting for a great number of Antigua's legends and stories.  Nearby is the church of Saint Peter, the last one to be rebuilt after the 1773 earthquakes. The church and convent of San Francisco are located just a few blocks away. The church has become a pilgrimage center, since it houses the remains of Antigua's  saint, Hermano Pedro. The convent, which covered more than two blocks, was the largest in Antigua. The keen traveler will notice this convent is missing one of the most characteristic traits, its fountain, which was moved to the park located outside the church of La Merced. The "Calle de los Pasos" (street of the steps) runs from San Francisco to the South; its name comes from the 12 chapels which border it and represent the steps in Christ´s passion. The street ends in the park and church of El Calvario, where Hermano Pedro planted his famous and miraculous "Esquisúchil" tree. The church and convent of La Merced are located in the northern part of the city. The churchj is richly adorned with stucco vegetable motifs, and the convent has the largest fountain in town. Another interesting convent is Capuchinas, which was built completely out of stone and is the only one inj America with a circular plant design. The convent of La Recolección makes for a nice visit and it allows one to appreciate the grandeur of Antigua's convents and at the same time analize the evidence of the enormous damages caused by the violent earthquakes which shook the city.

Holy Week

Lent and holy week are festivity times in Antigua and its surroundings. The celebrations begin with procession during the Sundays of lent. During "Semana Santa the churches altars are decorated with "sagrarios" (altars) which contain fruits, handicrafts an outstanding scenarios in which the main sculptures of the churches are exhibited.  Processions are the main feature; thousands of people dress with costumes according to their orders and carryon their shoulders the richly arranged and decorated floats. The processions move through the streets which are covered with carpets made out of colored sawdust and flowers. All this activity goes on in an environment filled with firecracker, incense, flowers, fruits and food vendors.

Surroundings

Antigua's surroundings offer a series of town and natural landscapes which can be visited in short trips. San Lucas a gastronomical destination, in its famous market one may taste typical plates and drinks such as tostadas (fried tortillas with a beans, avocado or tomato sauce topping), tortillas with an infinity of meats and sausages, and atole (drinks made out of natural grains). Agua volcano is an ideal destination for those looking for a challenge; besides  a great hike it offers impressive views and landscapes. San Antonio Aguas-calientes is renowned for its high quality textiles which can be admired and purchased at a handicraft market recently built near the town's main square, San Juan del Obispo, located on the  mountainside of Agua volcano, boasts a sensational view of Antigua and an elegant colonial church. The main attraction in San Andrés Itzapa is the cult of San Simón, in which religious and magical rituals are combined. Along the road to San Andrés Itzapa there is
an area cultivated with corn during harvest times several posts offer grilled and cooked corn cobs and corn drinks right out from the plantation. Pilgrims visiting the miraculous image of Christ in San Felipe's church, are usually treated to one of the famous restaurants in town. Pastores is a land of leather craftsmen who tailor boots, shoes, and sandals. Several farms which produce coffee and other  products have entered the tourism market and besides their high quality products they offer interesting tours which allow one to visit the beautiful haciendas and live first hand  the field work  and processing involved in producing coffee, ornamental plants, fruits and vegetables. Nearby towns of Santiago and Sumpango Sacatepéquez enjoy a colorful party on All Saints Day (November 1st.). During this celebration enormous kites are flown as a means of communicating with the dead.

Museums and Galleries

Antigua houses several art galleries and centers. These places have a special ambiance. Galleries exhibit and sell painting, sculptures, and antiques. The pieces come from Guatemala artists as well as from artist from all over América. For those interested in buying, the owners, who personally oversee the galleries, offer all sorts of advice, including security and logistics for taking any of the works of art back home or back to the office. Whether it is with buying purpose or simple curiosity, art galleries in Antigua are must see establishments for foreign and local visitors.

Cathedral of San José

Built between 1543 and 1680, today only the facade and wall structure remain. Excavations in 1935 revealed crypts beneath the Cathedral. One remains open and contains an altar, a crucifix and statues os staints. Legend claims the tomb of Don Pedro de Alvarado, Spanish conquistador, is buried in the cathedral.
Open daily from 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. and 3 p.m - 7p.m

City Hall

Built in 1743, it remains operationaland shows the rich colonial architecture of the city.

The palace of the Captains General

It has 26 two-story arches which extend over one hundred meters. Offices of the departmental governor and National Police are located here. The building was recently renovated.

Plaza de Armas

The central plaza has a lovely fountain center and festive gardens, a center of activity where fiesta and public events are held.

San Francisco

Revered Brother Pedro de Bethancourt, who died in 1667, is buried here. The chapel contains some of Guatemala's finest religious paintings. A small museum displays items related to Hermano Pedro´s life and work.

Santiago Museum

Colonial weapons, artillery pieces, a torture chamber and works of art. Open 9-12 a.m. and 2-6 p.m. daily.