Exploring Colonial Antigua, Guatemala, Antigua, Guatemala

Located in the shadows of Agua Volcano, the colonial city of Antigua has the perfect setting. With its mix of colourful colonial homes and 17th century church ruins under the perfect cone-shaped volcano, it’s no wonder that Antigua is Guatemala’s most visited city. If you like visiting quaint, colonial Old Towns, you will love exploring Antigua, Guatemala.

Antigua was the third capital of Spanish colonial Guatemala. Although it was called Guatemala, it was actually much larger than the country we know today. At the time Guatemala consisted of most of present-day Central America, not including Belize and Panama, as well as the Mexican state of Chiapas. The first two capitals of this early Guatemala were both called Santiago de los Caballeros and were abandoned. One was vacated due to a Mayan uprising and the other when it was damaged by mud flows that came streaming out of Agua Volcano.

In 1543 the capital was moved again to what we now know as Antigua. The Spanish picked what they thought was a safe spot in Panchoy Valley, which was still not far from Agua Volcano. This third capital was also named Santiago de los Caballeros and it remained as the capital for almost 200 years. Using the same name for three capitals must have caused a bit of confusion. This new capital suffered through a several earthquakes, and eventually a large series of earthquakes destroyed the town in 1773. They are called the Santa Marta earthquakes because they began on the Day of Santa Marta. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).