Antigua Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala is a city in the central mountains of Guatemala, best known for having been the Spanish Colonial Capital of Central America and preserving much Spanish New World Baroque architecture. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

"Antigua Guatemala" means the old city of Guatemala. It was founded on March 10, 1543. It suffered 2 severe earthquakes in 1773, because of which the Spanish Crown ordered a new capital built at what is the modern Guatemala City, and in 1776 Antigua was ordered abandoned.

Antigua Guatemala is the capital of the department of Sacatepéquez.

Antigua Guatemala is noted for its very elaborate religious celebrations for the Holy Week leading up to Easter.

External Link

• enantigua.com (http://www.enantigua.com) Text in Spanish; many good photos