Antigua Guatemala Things to Do Tips by thelukey

The modern "Catedral de Santiago," facing Antigua's central park, isn't particularly attractive or noteworthy, compared to a few of the town's other churches; more interesting and picturesque are the ruins of the huge 17th-century cathedral that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1773. For a donation of Q3 ($0.39), you can check out the arches that once supported a huge dome, five naves, and a total of eighteen chapels, as well as the few statues and adornments that have survived through the centuries.

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Located on 1era Calle Pte., just three blocks north and a half-block west of the Central Park, the yellow and white La Merced church boasts the most intricately decorated facade in all of Antigua. Truly a work of art, a visit to the Iglesia La Merced, and to the Covento Mercedario next door, must be a part of any traveler's stay in Antigua. Entrance to the convent costs a mere Q3 ($0.39) - a great bargain.

It seems to me that I read somewhere that the fountain inside the Convento Mercedario is the largest colonial fountain in all of Central America. Worth a second look. If you would like to check out a few more pictures of the La Merced Church and Convent, please take a look at my "La Merced" Travelogue.

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The "Iglesia y Convento de la Recolección" (also known as the "Colegio de Cristo Crucificado de Misiones Apostólicas de Propaganda Fide") is one of the four sets of colonial ruins in Antigua Guatemala that are maintained by the "Consejo Nacional para la Protección de la Antigua Guatemala" (National Council for the Protection of Antigua Guatemala). Entrance fees to each one of these historic monuments - the other three are the Las Capuchinas Church and Convent, the San Jerónimo School, and the Santa Clara Church and Convent - cost Q30 ($3.95) for visitors from outside Central America. If your time and/or budget won't allow you to visit all four of these showpiece ruins, and if what you’re looking for are large-scale ruins (i.e. huge chunks of walls and ceilings lying about all over the place, as if the earthquake that shook everything to the ground happened just last week, rather than in 1773), then look no further than "La Recolección."

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Directions: These massive ruins are located roughly 1 km. northwest of the Central Park; to get there, walk north from the park until you hit 1era Calle, then turn left and keep walking straight until you get there.

The construction of Las Capuchinas, more formally known as the "Iglesia y Convento de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza," was completed on January 25, 1736. The nuns who called this convent home were prohibited from having any visual contact with the outside world; they received their food by means of a turntable and they could only speak to visitors through a grill. The convent's most distinguishing feature is a circular structure containing the eighteen cells that served as the living quarters for the nuns who resided there. The convent's courtyard, its arched corridors, its exterior gardens, and its small collection of colonial-era religious statues and relics are also worth taking a look at.

The second picture attached to this tip, of the entrances to the nuns' tiny cells, shows that apparently there wasn't much difference between being sent off to a colonial convent and being sent off to a medieval prison.

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Directions: To get there from the central park, walk east two blocks, then turn left on 1era Ave. and walk another two blocks.

The San Jerónimo school had a short and somewhat tumultuous existence. Built between 1739 and 1757, the school was closed down by Spanish King Carlos III because it lacked his royal approval. From 1765 until 1773 (when it was destroyed by earthquakes), the former school served as the royal customs house. Although the guidebook I have describes these ruins as "spectacular," I found them to be the least interesting of the four monuments that are maintained by the "Consejo Nacional para la Protección de la Antigua Guatemala." The gardens that surround the ruins of the Colegio de San Jerónimo might be more impressive than the ruins themselves

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Directions: If you want to take a look yourself, these ruins are located along 1era Calle Pte. / Calle de la Recolección, about half-way between the Iglesia La Merced and the ruins of La Recolección.

From an architectural standpoint, the ruins of the Santa Clara church and convent might not be particularly impressive, but the gardens stand out as a great place to see and photograph a good selection of the many beautiful flowers that call Antigua Guatemala home.

The Santa Clara church, which can be perfectly observed from the street, without having to pay the entrance fee to the convent, isn't on the whole terribly interesting, but it does have its artistic flourishes here and there.

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Directions: Santa Clara is located on 2da Ave. Sur, between 6a and 7a Calle Pte. - two blocks east and two blocks south of the Parque Central.

The attractive fountain that anchors the central park (and that dates from 1738) is probably one of the most frequently photographed objects in all of Antigua. The park itself is a great place to relax and entertain yourself with some world-class people-watching.

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The San Agustín Church isn’t as spectacular as many of Antigua’s churches, but it’s still worth a visit.

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Directions: The San Agustín Church is located on the corner of 5ta Calle Pte. and 7ma Ave. (two blocks west of the central park).

The Iglesia de Hermano Pedro and the adjacent Hospital de San Pedro were both named in honor of Hermano Pedro de San José Betancourt, the Spanish-born Franciscan monk who did most of his good deeds in 17th-century Antigua, and who is buried in the Iglesia de San Francisco. Both are worth a visit since they’re so close to the central park, though again, they’re not as breath-taking as many of the more famous sights.

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Directions: Get there by walking two blocks east and one block south of the central park, to the corner of 2da Ave. Sur and 6ta Calle Ote.

The El Carmen church is yet another minor colonial ruin that merits at least a cursory visit to check out its expertly-sculpted decorative columns.

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Directions: The Iglesia de El Carmen is found on 3ra Ave. Norte, between 2da and 3ra Calle Pte., just 2-1/2 blocks north-east of the central park.