El Carmen Church (ruins), Antigua
With its ornate stonework and majestic columns, El Carmen was a lavish Catholic church in the city of Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala that survived relatively well the Santa Marta earthquakes but was almost destroyed by ulterior 20th-century ones. Despite this, the facade remained in rather good condition and has since then been admired as an example of the Guatemalan seismic Baroque.
No longer active, the church can only be viewed from the outside (try peering through the bars used to protect it), but that gives you time to enjoy the popular handicrafts market right next door; an excellent place to buy gifts for your loved ones, though sometimes you have to know how to bargain if you want to pay a good price.
Tip:
Also across the street is the excellent EPICURE restaurant inspired by European cuisine, and next to it is the amazing home that Antoine de Saint-Exupéry lived in when he wrote 'The Little Prince'. If you crave a vegetarian/vegan meal, do not miss LA BRUJA, tucked into the back corner of an off-street courtyard surrounded by plants. The food is simply amazing!
No longer active, the church can only be viewed from the outside (try peering through the bars used to protect it), but that gives you time to enjoy the popular handicrafts market right next door; an excellent place to buy gifts for your loved ones, though sometimes you have to know how to bargain if you want to pay a good price.
Tip:
Also across the street is the excellent EPICURE restaurant inspired by European cuisine, and next to it is the amazing home that Antoine de Saint-Exupéry lived in when he wrote 'The Little Prince'. If you crave a vegetarian/vegan meal, do not miss LA BRUJA, tucked into the back corner of an off-street courtyard surrounded by plants. The food is simply amazing!
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Antigua. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
El Carmen Church (ruins) on Map
Sight Name: El Carmen Church (ruins)
Sight Location: Antigua, Guatemala (See walking tours in Antigua)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Antigua, Guatemala (See walking tours in Antigua)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Antigua, Guatemala
Create Your Own Walk in Antigua
Creating your own self-guided walk in Antigua is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Ancient Ruins of Antigua
In places like Antigua Guatemala, it feels as if a time machine has already been invented. This glorious ancient town breathes history in all its streets, houses, fountains, and courtyards, but above all the great ruins, which are impossible to miss against the impressive backdrop of Agua Volcano. The latter is responsible for these ruins in the first place, having caused a series of earthquakes... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Antigua Introduction Walking Tour
Antigua, Guatemala, which is sometimes known as La Antigua, dates back to 1543. This city was the third capital of the Spanish colony. Surrounded by volcanoes, the city of Antigua is a small yet very picturesque example of Spanish colonial architecture. Jesuit and Franciscan orders have had a presence in this region since the 17th century, contributing to its rich colonial religious life.
The... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
The... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Antigua Museums
A combination of Spanish colonialism and Mayan culture has given rise to a wealth of heritage in Guatemala. The evidence of this is particularly visible in Antigua, a small town yet fascinating place to visit in Latin America. The local museums are well worth exploring for anyone wishing to learn about the country's history in general and some of its aspects in particular.
The Casa Santo... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
The Casa Santo... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles