Historic places in Antigua Guatemala

Historic places in Antigua Guatemala

1. See

   Banco Industrial Numismatic Museum

   Small but high-quality museum interpreting history of Guatemalan currency.

   Mon-Fri 09:00-19:00, Sat Sun 09:00-17:00·Free

2. See

   Catedral de Antigua Guatemala

   Catedral de San José

   The second church to occupy this site and one of the largest in Central America during its heyday, the Catedral de Antigua Guatemala was built in 1680 to replace its antecessor that dated to 1541. While most of the building was leveled during the earthquake of 1773, the ornate Baroque facade emerged relatively unscathed. While a partial reconstruction beginning in the 19th century has allowed the building to once again be home to a functioning church, other portions of the complex remain in ruins.

3. See

   ChocoMuseo Antigua

   Learn how to make chocolate from the cocoa beans. A unique experience where you learn everything about the history of chocolate, the cacao plantations, and the industry of chocolate making. At the end of the class you will make your own chocolate bar at your taste and will be able to bring it back home with you.

   Daily 10:00-19:00·Free

4. See

   Colegio de San Jerónimo

   The useful lifespan of the Colegio de San Jerónimo was short indeed: the sixteen years between its completion in 1757 and the earthquake of 1773 that destroyed it saw the building used first as a secondary school staffed by the Friars of La Merced, then as a royal customs house. Today, though it's quite a bit further afield from the other colonial ruins, San Jerónimo is popular with visitors for the beautifully landscaped gardens in its courtyard, centered on a lovely fountain and playing host frequently to dance performances, festivals, and other cultural events. As for the building itself, you can tour through the crumbling ruins of the old dormitories with their handsome vaulted ceilings, then head to the upper level for a great view of Volcán Agua in the distance.

   Daily 09:00-17:00·Q30

5. See

   Convento de Santa Clara

   One of the largest complexes of colonial ruins in Antigua, the Convento de Santa Clara was built in 1715 as the home of an order of Franciscan nuns founded some years earlier by a group of six sisters from Mexico. Today this ruin is most notable for its facade, which largely survived the earthquake of 1773 that devastated the complex; it's one of the most ornate in all of Antigua, replete with intricate statuary and ornamentation in molded stucco. Interestingly, the facade is located in the rear of the complex: in front is a spacious, well-tended courtyard garden not too different from the one at Colegio de San Jerónimo, ringed by the ruined remains of the former cloisters. Ascend to the upper level for a nice view over the surrounding mountains.

   Q40

6. Eat

   Doña Luisa Xicotencatl

   Has the feel of a well-run corporate restaurant set in a gorgeous leafy courtyard of a historic building. Menu includes well-executed breakfast, hamburgers, and Guatemalan interpretations of Tex-Mex food. They use purified water on their vegetables and for drinking and ice, which means their menu is in-bounds for tender First World stomachs. There is a bakery in the building, which means that when you get close you can follow the delicious smells the rest of the way in. Highly recommended, especially for the cookies and daily selection of delightful breakfast breads.

   Daily 07:00-21:30·Q50-80

7. See

   Iglesia de La Merced

   Erected in 1767 by friars from the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, or Mercedarians, La Merced was one of the few buildings in Antigua to withstand the Santa Marta earthquake that struck seven years later. This was due to the ingenuity of architect Juan de Dios Estrada, who designed the building with his memories and observations of the tremor of 1751 fresh in his mind: the building's modest height, bottom-heavy orientation, wide arches, and robust columns were intended to withstand earthquakes. La Merced was abandoned in 1829 when President Francisco Morazán expelled all clergy from what was then called the Federal Republic of Central America; the church wasn't reopened until 1853, by which time the attached monastery had fallen victim to looters who plundered its building materials for use elsewhere. Today, visitors can take in a distinctive yellow facade that has been called the most beautiful example of Spanish Baroque architecture in Antigua, pay the admission fee for the ruins of the monastery whose courtyard boasts what is reputed to be the largest fountain in Central America (the Mercedarian monks once raised fish in it), or, if you are in town during semana santa (Holy Week, the week before Easter), check out the processions that wind through the streets of old Antigua on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, beginning and ending at the church.

   Mon-Fri 08:00-12:30 & 15:00-18:00, Sat Sun 08:00-12:00 & 14:00-18:00·Admission fee to convent GTQ15

8. See

   Iglesia de San Francisco el Grande

   This grand old church is one of the most visited of Antigua's ruins, thanks to its status as final resting place of Hermano Pedro de San José Betancurt: a 17th-century monk who is the first Catholic saint to hail from Guatemala, and was renowned as the "St. Francis of Assisi of the Americas" due to his ascetic lifestyle, charitable generosity, and aid to marginalized groups within colonial Guatemalan society. A multi-domed structure in the Spanish Baroque style, San Francisco el Grande is a classic example of colonial-era architecture. It was partially reconstructed after the earthquake of 1773 and is still an operating church, but there's also a small museum onsite dedicated to Hermano Pedro and the history of the church.

   Daily 06:00-18:00·Q8

9. See

   La Recolección

   Built in 1708 as a church and monastery for friars from the Order of the Recollects, La Recolección sustained heavy damage in the earthquakes of 1717 and 1753 before meeting its final destruction in the massive Santa Marta Earthquake of 1773 that claimed most of the rest of the city along with it. Today it's among the largest ruins in Antigua, but it's also far off the well-trodden circuit (hidden away past the bus station at the west end of town) and not particularly well-preserved either: damage to La Recolección continued even after the quake, when much of the remaining material was plundered for other construction projects and structurally stable portions of the complex were altered for use as a soap factory, a horse stable, and other purposes. Still, visitors can take advantage of the quiet tranquility and lack of crowds to enjoy a peaceful walk through the garden. As for the ruins themselves, the former church building is the best-preserved portion of the complex; the cloisters, former infirmary building, and other remains less so.

   Daily 09:00-17:00·Q40

10. See

    Museo Casa del Tejido Antiguo

    Founded in 1998, the Casa del Tejido Antiguo is a museum dedicated to the craft of weaving as practiced for centuries by the native Mayans of Guatemala. Tucked away in an out-of-the-way corner of central Antigua, you'll be taken on a brief (30- to 40-minute) guided tour through about a half-dozen rooms of museum exhibits detailing the history, tools and techniques of traditional Mayan weaving. Then you'll be set loose into an even larger section containing artisans hard at work on garments, mats and artistic pieces. You can (and will be emphatically encouraged to) buy some of their work; whilst the quality is decent the cost is several times what a decent haggler would pay for similar pieces at the Mercado. All exhibits are in Spanish only, and only some of the staff speak English, so those who don't speak good Spanish should ask in advance for an English-speaking tour guide.

    Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00, Sat 09:00-16:00·Q15 for guided tour of museum portion; free for those only visiting market

11. See

    Museo Santiago de los Caballeros

    Real Palacio de los Capitanes Generales

    A museum showcasing preHispanic and colonial artifacts in part of this historic government palace.

    Thu Fri 09:00-16:00, Sat Sun 10:00-16:00, but the palace and grounds are open daily all day

12. See

    Parque Central

    Plaza Mayor

    This park is a city block in size, with concentric circular walkways threading among trees and a fountain in the middle. The trees are decorated with lights, and there are plenty of benches for sitting and people-watching. The city hall and police office, the cathedral and several banks and tourist businesses line the four sides of the park. Many Antiguans hang out in the park, and it has a pleasant, bustling, friendly feel during the day (at night, slightly less so. Use your judgment).

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Antigua Guatemala (CC BY-SA 4.0).