Must-see attractions in Antigua

  • Stone water bowl at Hotel Casa Santa Domingo.

    Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo

    Antigua

    Founded by Dominican friars in 1542, Santo Domingo became the biggest and richest monastery in Antigua. Following three 18th-century earthquakes, the…

  • Iglesia Merced

    Antigua

    At the northern end of 5a Av is La Merced – a striking yellow building trimmed with white plaster filigree. Its facade is one of the most beautiful in…

  • Arco de Santa Catalina

    Antigua

    The Arco de Santa Catalina is Antigua's most iconic monument, and an early-morning or late-afternoon photo opportunity framing Volcán Agua through its…

  • Catedral de Santiago (Santiago Cathedral), Antigua, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Guatemala, Central America

    Catedral de Santiago

    Antigua

    Antigua's cathedral was begun in 1545, wrecked by the quake of 1773, and only partially rebuilt over the next century. The present sliver of a church –…

  • Parque Central at night, Antigua, Guatemala, Central America

    Parque Central

    Antigua

    Surrounded by superb colonial structures, this broad and beautiful plaza is the gathering place for antigüeños and visitors alike – a fine, verdant place…

  • Memorial wall anitigua Guatemala

    Cementerio General

    Antigua

    Antigua's municipal cemetery, southwest of the market and bus terminal, is a conglomeration of tombs and mausoleums decked with wreaths, exotic flowers…

  • Iglesia de San Francisco

    Antigua

    This church is imbued with the spirit of Hermano Pedro de San José de Bethancourt, a Franciscan monk who founded a hospital for the poor in Antigua and…

  • Iglesia y Convento de la Recolección

    Antigua

    A serene air pervades the remains of the monastery of La Recolección, which stands well west of the center. Erected in the early 18th century by the…

  • Convento de Capuchinas

    Antigua

    Inaugurated in 1736 by nuns from Madrid, the convent of Las Capuchinas was seriously damaged by the 1773 earthquake and thereafter abandoned. Thanks to…

  • Colegio de San Jerónimo

    Antigua

    Completed in 1757, the Colegio de San Jerónimo was used as a school by friars of the Merced order, but because it did not have royal authorization, it was…

  • Iglesia y Convento de Santa Clara

    Antigua

    Established by sisters from Puebla, Mexico, Santa Clara was inaugurated in 1734, destroyed four decades later by the great quake and abandoned…

  • Iglesia y Convento de Belén

    Antigua

    In the garden outside this convent is a poignant statue of Hermano Pedro, the revered saint whose shadow looms large in Antigua. It was here that he died…

  • Palacio de los Capitanes Generales

    Antigua

    Dating from 1549, the palace was colonial headquarters for all of Central America, from Chiapas to Costa Rica, until the capital was relocated in 1776…

  • Palacio del Ayuntamiento

    Antigua

    This double-decker structure on the north side of the park dates from the 18th century. Besides town offices, the palace houses the Museo del Libro…

  • Choco Museo

    Antigua

    It was the Maya who discovered the culinary uses of the cacao bean, which later became a form of currency for the Aztec empire. These are a few of the…

  • Museo del Libro Antiguo

    Antigua

    The fascinating Museo del Libro Antiguo showcases the greatest hits of the early days of Guatemalan printing, plus a replica of Guatemala's first printing…

  • Iglesia El Carmen

    Antigua

    The church is not open to the public, but the partially destroyed facade with its multiple carved columns is a marvel. What we see today is what's left of…

  • Iglesia de San José El Viejo

    Antigua

    Originally built as a shrine to house the image of Saint Joseph, this church stood completed for just 11 years before the 1773 earthquake laid it low. Its…

  • Cerro de la Cruz

    Antigua

    Well worth the ascent, Cerro de la Cruz provides fine views looking south over town toward Volcán Agua. The prominent cross at the head of the lookout…

  • Convento de Santa Teresa

    Antigua

    Until recently the city prison, this edifice was initially built as a convent for the Carmelite order from Lima, Peru. Much of the interior was shattered…

  • Iglesia y Convento de San Agustín

    Antigua

    Two blocks west of Parque Central, the stately facade of this building is just the shell of what was once a massive complex for the order of San Agustín,…

  • La Antigua Galería de Arte

    Antigua

    Displaying works by more than 70 Guatemalan artists in the halls and patio of a colonial mansion, Antigua's premier art gallery merits an extended visit…

  • Iglesia de la Candelaria

    Antigua

    Though little remains of this church on the northeast side of town, if you can't get enough of Antigua's religious ruins, it's worth a hike here to admire…

  • Iglesia de la Escuela de Cristo

    Antigua

    Within this remarkably well-preserved church is a life-size Christ figure, who is borne around town during Antigua's enormous Semana Santa processions…

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