History of Antigua Guatemala: La muy noble ciudad de Santiago de Los Caballeros, known today as Antigua, was one of the oldest and most important cities of the colonial period, along with the capitals of Mexico and Peru.

 Spanish-style window of a house in Antigua

Spain divided the New World into three sections.  The section now known as Central America was controlled by Antigua.   Located in the Panchoy valley, the city was founded in 1541, after the destruction of Ciudad Vieja, by an enormous mudslide from the Agua Volcano.  

Antigua was one of the first cities in the New World to use the Spanish grid design in the layout of the streets.  Today, Antigua retains its original charm and still has cobble stones streets and Spanish Colonial architecture.  

 As the capital of Guatemala, Antigua was destroyed by the earthquake of Santa Marta in 1773.  At that point, the government moved the capital to Guatemala City, where it is today.  

Central patio of Capuchinas Convent. 

In 1942,  La Antigua was declared a Monument of the Americas by the Panamerican Institute of History and Geography. In 1944, it was declared a national monument of Guatemala .  In 1979, UNESCO named Antigua a Colonial Cultural Heritage of America .  In 1969, the Guatemalan Congress created a law to protect and preserve the colonial city.  Today it is one of the most visited and beautiful cities in Guatemala. 

Antigua is also well known for the good quality of roses and a big variety of  flowers grown here. 

Click here for detail information about the Colonial monuments of Antigua Help to keep the world healthy. BACK TO TOP