The Beautiful Town of Antigua Guatemala

Guatemala is usually considered an off-the-beaten-path travel destination.

But the country has a plethora of historically and culturally interesting places worth visiting.

Among them is the picturesque town of Antigua Guatemala, a UNESCO world heritage site. It has a wealth of stunning Spanish colonial architecture and a rich history.

The town was founded as a Spanish colonial capital in the beginning of the 16th century and named Santiago de Guatemala.

It served as the seat of power for the Kingdom of Guatemala until hit by devastating earthquakes in 1773.

Many of its important monuments built over the centuries of Spanish rule remain preserved as ruins.

Much of the architecture was built in the 17th and 18th centuries. The church standing today was reconstructed from the original cathedral erected in the late 1600s.

Convents and monasteries also figure prominently into the landscape. Intricate facades remain for many of the domiciles and places of worship.



The Spanish colonial style isn't limited to religious and government buildings. Some old and others new, homes of all sizes populate the island.



Antigua Guatemala-Wikipedia