Convent of the Capuchins, Antigua (must see)

The Convent of the Capuchins is one of the finest examples of 18th-century convent architecture in Guatemala and among Antigua's most distinctive colonial monuments. It was consecrated in 1736 for the Capuchin Poor Clares, a cloistered Franciscan order devoted to lives of poverty, prayer, and simplicity. It was the last convent built in colonial Antigua and the first to admit women without requiring the substantial dowry traditionally expected of new nuns, allowing women of modest means to embrace religious life. Daily life was governed by strict rules of poverty, fasting, and penance, and even drinking chocolate—a luxury in colonial Guatemala—was forbidden.

Like much of Antigua, the convent suffered earthquake damage in 1751 and again during the devastating Saint Martha earthquakes of 1773, after which the community was ordered to abandon the complex when the colonial capital moved to present-day Guatemala City. Fortunately, much of the structure survived, and careful restoration has preserved one of the city's best-preserved monastic complexes. The earthquake proof features of the convent aren't hard to find. Enter through the main corridor into the cloister courtyard, where you can admire the short, thick stone pillars and low arches designed to survive seismic tremors.

The convent is especially renowned for its unique circular tower, an architectural feature unlike any other in Guatemala. Head to the rear of the complex and climb the stone staircase to the upper level to reach the circular Tower of Retreat. Once you're there, you'll be greeted by a wheel-shaped open courtyard surrounded by eighteen radial doorways of the tiny monastic cells. They are thought to have been used by novice nuns or for private retreats. Visitors can also explore the remarkably well-preserved cloisters, gardens, courtyards, kitchens, and living quarters, gaining an intimate impression of convent life during the colonial era. The surprisingly small cells illustrate the austere lifestyle practiced by the Capuchin sisters.

Another highlight is the circular room beneath the nuns' tower, celebrated for its remarkable acoustics—try singing softly to experience its unusual echo. Take the stairs back down and follow the stone path into the dark, subterranean chamber located directly underneath the cells. The subterranean vault is dominated by a massive central column that acts as the structural anchor for the tower.

For tourists, the convent offers outstanding opportunities for photography, with graceful arches, stone corridors, flower-filled courtyards, fountains, and volcanoes creating memorable compositions around every corner.