√ Antigua Guatemala (Guatemala): information on the city, what to visit and what to do Antigua Guatemala?
Antigua Guatemala
Population: ~ 50.000
Time difference to London - Time zone GMT/UTC: -6 hours (+/- changes due summertime/daylight saving)
► Basic information on Guatemala
La Antigua Guatemala at 1530 meters is surrounded by the volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatenango.
The climate is very rich with day temperatures of 23ºC and night temperatures of 14ºC.
In summer, when the intensely colored flowers of the bougainvillea decorate the white walls under a blue sky, one knows why Antigua is one of the most beautiful places in Guatemala.
Tell us your opinion about Antigua Guatemala. Can you recomment this city?
► To write comment on Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala (Guatemala) - Things to See:
- Central Park
- Cathedral San José
- Palacio de los Capitanes Generales
- Church and Convent La Merced
- Church and Monastery Santa Clara
- Las Capuchinas
- Museum Armas de Santiago de los Caballeros
- Old Book Museum
- Museum Santo Domingo
- Museum Jade S.A.
- Museum Traje Indígena
- Craft Market
- Galleries
- Multiple ruins, shops, restaurants, bars and cafeterias
Antigua Guatemala (Guatemala) - Local Fiestas and Festivals:
- Holy week – Semana Santa (Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday)
Center of Antigua
You'll be charmed by the narrow cobblestone streets and by the 16th-century churches and convents, whose beautiful fountains and gardens have been well preserved. Antigua maintains an excellent quality of life, which makes it an excellent place to study.
It's close proximity to other attractions, within Guatemala and neighboring countries, also makes it an ideal jumping off point for weekend excursions.
Central Park/Parque Central
The Central Park/Parque Central is the center of La Antigua Guatemala around which life revolves.
You can relax on a bench facing the fountain Fuente de las Sirenas, talk to Guatemalans or visitors alike or just people watch ...
Every Saturday and Sunday there is a group playing Latin music, just great!
Cathedral San José
Constructed in 1545 by Bishop Francisco Marroquín, it was the first cathedral in Antigua, a construction made of leftovers from the ruined church of Ciudad Vieja (the former capital) with a wooden roof.
After the earthquake in 1583 they started over again and built an imposing church to show the Antiguans who was in charge of the city. The cathedral, richly illuminated, is also very beautiful at night.
Palacio de los Capitanes Generales
The Palacio de los Capitanes Generales was the residency of the governmental representatives of the Spanish king, accommodating magistracy, governmental agencies and offices, the military and the court.
The 1558 Renaissance construction was destroyed in the earthquake of 1717.
What we see today dates from 1773 and is used by the administration of the Department of Sacatepéquez and by the police.
Church and Convent La Merced
The Mercedianos, who were mostly active in Peru, tried with great difficulty to erect a church and convent in Antigua.
The Merced survived the earthquake of 1773 relatively unscathed.
Today this church is one of the most beautiful baroque constructions with an opulently ornate facade.
In the patio of the convent can be seen the 'fish well' in which the monks run a small fish farm.
Church and Convent Santa Clara
The congregation of the Clarisas was one of the richest in Antigua. In 1699 the monks came from Puebla (Mexico) to Guatemala and could lead quite a comfortable life due to the dowry of many rich women of the congregation.
However, the earthquake of 1773 spelt the end for the Clarisas. One part of the convent went private. Today, all that remains of the convent is a two-story arcade and the fountain in the patio.
Las Capuchinas
In 1725 five nuns of the congregation of the Capuchinas came from Madrid to Antigua to found the fifth and last sisterhood of the city. They also accepted women without income. The nuns were forbidden to have visible contact with the outside world.
The convent of Las Capuchinas is the most unconventional building of all of the convents of Antigua. Now partially in ruins, it was built very luxuriously for the time. The tower of the convent with a round patio and 18 surrounding novice cells is a very special construction.
Museum Armas de Santiago de los Caballeros (Weapons Museum)
The Town Hall accommodates two museums, the Museo de Santiago and the Museo del Libro Antiguo (Old Book Museum).
The Museo de Santiago (de Armas) exhibits colonial pottery, uniforms, silver jewelry, furniture, paintings and weapons such as clubs, axes and arrows used by the Spanish when confronting the Guatemalans. There is also a marimba of the 17th century. In the patio is the prison which was in use until 1955.
Museo del Libro Antiguo (Old Book Museum)
Then Old Book Museum is located also in the building of the Town Hall. The museum exhibits the first printing press of Guatemala and the third of its type in Latin America of the year 1660. Between 1660 and 1773 there were various printing shops in Antigua.
The first book of Guatemala is from Obispo Payo de Rivera. You can see there the Gazeta de Goathemala, a sort of official journal. Furthermore, the museum exhibits printing plates and old books and bindings.
More museums:
Museo de Santo Domingo
The convent, one of the biggest of America, was constructed in 1551 and accommodated the congregation of the disciples of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. After suffering damage in the earthquake of 1773, it was abandoned and material was taken from its walls to be used for other construction work. The hotel was inaugurated in 1989. It was the chair of an archeological consulting center until 1998 when it was taken over by PROTUNAC, later being converted into a hotel and the Cultural Center Santo Domingo. It accommodates two museums:
Colonial Art Museum
Objects dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries: old images, silver, chalices, monstrances, cherubims and virgins.
Precolumbian Art and Modern Glass Museum
Work produced by the Mayas, impressive for their form as well as size and color.
Jade Museum
Jades S.A. was established in 1974. It consists of a factory and jade shop as well as an archeological museum.
Indígena Weave Museum
Typical costumes are exhibited on peculiar mannequins grouped as a family, i.e. parents and children performing daily work. Technical fact sheets describe the region to which each robe belongs, its significance and local language of those wearing it. There is a large variety of cloth and textiles ranging from shirts, pants, scarves and table centers to decorative pieces. One can observe a weaver creating original fabric designs. In the museum shop you can acquire such cloth and also souvenirs.
Culture, Commerce
La Antigua Guatemala offers a myriad of commerce, manual local work and artistic craftwork. You can admire and compare this craftwork in the streets, at the crafts market, in the textile factory between 1a. Avenida and Callejón del Rubio and in the Cooperative 'Mañanas y tardes Mayas' in San Antonio Aguas Calientes to name but a few.
Each month there are various exhibitions, lectures and cultural presentations. In order to know where to go, consult the magazines Revue and Qué pasa en Antigua.
Cerro de la Cruz
From the viewpoint of Cerro de la Cruz, a hill with a distinctive stone cross on the northern side of the city, there is a splendid view over La Antigua Guatemala towards the now extinct volcano Agua.
This panorama is a feature of many postcards.
Local festivals and celebrations in Antigua Guatemala
Perhaps the highest religious fervor found in Central America is the celebration of the Holy Week in La Antigua Guatemala. Enormous processions pass through the streets and avenues carrying Jesus and his cross. While the procession moves forward, the feet of the carriers walk on delicately created carpets made of sawdust, showing flowers of vibrant colors that are destroyed as the church parade moves over them.
On 25th July Antigua celebrates the festival of the patron of Santiago de los Caballeros. During the month of July many activities related to this celebration take place.
Cuisine: Tortillas and a lot more
Tortillas, made from corn, are eaten at every meal: with frijoles (black beans), guacamole (avocado puree), salsa roja (red sauce), salsa picante (hot sauce) or simply to accompany breakfast, lunch or dinner. Tamales and chuchitos consist also of corn and are eaten with different sauces. Pepián is a rich broth with a myriad of ingredients and chicken.
For special festivities a stew with three types of meat is served.
For the celebration of Todos los Santos (1st November) a fiambre is prepared, a meal consisting of no less than 40 ingredients. In addition, every area has its own typical meal. Come and taste!
Where to eat, where to go
In La Antigua Guatemala you can find any type of restaurants, bars and cafés, serving from local to international cuisine. A few first hand recommendations:
Café Sky - 1. Av. Sur # 15: Terrace with a fantastic view over La Antigua and the valley, the best place to observe spectacular sunsets.
Café Condesa - next to the park with patios and a colonial atmosphere. On Sundays phenomenal breakfast buffet at 70Q, eat all you can!
The Rainbow Café - 7. Av. Sur # 8: preferred place to read, talk, study and listen to live music in the evenings. There are also lectures about Antigua, Guatemalan life and culture and more. Consult the monthly program.
La Peña del Sol Latino - 5ª. Calle Poniente # 15 'C': with live music from the Andes, Wednesday to Sunday! They also play in the Central Park at weekends.
La Cueva de los Urquizú - 2. Calle Oriente # 9 'D': local buffet at Q70.00.
Where to dance Salsa
La Esquina: - 6. Calle Poniente: jeden Mittwoch 21: 00-24: 00h: kubanische Live-Musik.
Sin Ventura - 5. Av. Sur: jeden Donnerstag 21: 00-24: 00h: Salsa Live-Musik.
La Sala - 6. Calle Poniente, jeden Sonntag 21: 00-24: 00h: Salsa-Musik.
Und wenn du vor dem Besuch dieser Lokale noch üben musst, so gibt es in Antigua viele Salsa-Schulen, wo man Salsa lernen oder perfektionieren kann.
Where to watch football/soccer and basketball as well as other sports
La Canoa - 5. Calle Poniente: Sports bar, also offers barbecue food.
Café 2000 - 6. Av. Sur: Sports bar.
Where to practice Yoga
Hotel Panza Verde - 5. Av. Sur: every morning
Antigua Center - 7. Calle Poniente # 11, every Monday and Thursday at 17:00h.
Around Antigua - places to see
Nearby Antigua de Guatemala, there are many places that are worth a visit and in the city you can find a lot of agencies organizing trips and tours to visit them.
Jocotenango el Mariposario - Butterfly breeding
Jocotenango - Centro Cultural La Azotea with the Museum of Instruments, the 'corner' of Sacatepéquez that exhibits garments and the famous kites of Santiago Sacatepéquez as well as the Coffee Museum (incl. plantation).
San Miguel Dueñas - Finca Valhalla: Macadamia plantation farm with free facial massage!
San Antonio Aguas Calientes - a village famous for its typical costumes and cloths, Cooperative 'Mañanas y tardes Maya', with typical food (pepián).
San Cristóbal El Bajo - Finca el Pilar (Paraíso Azul), take a walk in the beautiful forest, observe birds, mainly hummingbirds, and swim in the fresh water of the well.
Volcán 'Pacaya' - the most frequented/visited volcano of the region.
More information and interesting Web-Sites regarding Antigua Guatemala:
Here you can find pictures from Antigua Guatemala and Atitlán Guatemala. Click on See Pictures on Slide Presentation" to see Antigua‘s Pictures in a Slide Show.
Web-Site in ENGLISH
EnAntigua.com - Guide to La Antigua Guatemala (Spanish version is working)
Come to Antigua Guatemala - photos, maps, places to visit (in Spanish only, English Version under construction)
El Hato: Earthlodge - to stay overnight or just for the day, enjoy the fantastic view, relax in a hammock and read, play ping-pong or darts, enjoy a good meal or take a walk
Web-Site in ENGLISH
Old Town Outfitters offers various tours and difficulty levels of mountain biking and walks in the region, and also in other areas of Guatemala.
Web-Site in ENGLISH
O.X. - rent a bike or go on an expedition...
Web-Site in ENGLISH
Cooking School Antigua Guatemala - Take home the rich culture of Guatemala by learning how to prepare the local cuisine! Guatemalan cuisine is an exotic mixture of traditional colonial Spanish and local Mayan cooking that is both delicious and fun to prepare.
Web-Site in ENGLISH
► Ad a link regarding to Antigua Guatemala
www.spanishcourses.info
TOP-List: Spanish language schools ►
Visited/personally acquainted schools ►
More/less active Spanish schools ►
Antigua Guatemala
Basic information Antigua Guatemala ►
Spanish schools in Antigua Guatemala
Guatemala
More featured cities in Guatemala
Find countries/cities/schools
More ...
