A city of charm and colour
Antigua Guatemala is the best-preserved colonial city in South America. Famous for its well-preserved Spanish Baroque inspired architecture and and cobblestone streets, it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in the early 16th century, every year Antigua Guatemala attracts visitors from around the world to enjoy its natural beauty and historic monuments.
The beautiful Spanish Colonial style permeates every part of the town: its houses, churches, squares, parks and ruins, also its traditions and folklore as well. Located in a Highland valley – 1,500 m above sea-level, the city was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773. Many churches and monasteries, casualties of the 1773 earthquake, have been preserved as ruins to this day.
Antigua is popular with tourists at all times of year and is full of great restaurants, hotels built in the same Spanish style with heavenly and flowered courtyards. Sits under the spectacular Agua Volcano – 3,765 meters high, the area offers an opportunity to hike the peaks for great city views. Antigua is noted for its crafts: terracotta, ceramics, wrought iron, silver and jade jewellery, wooden sculptures, carved colonial-style furniture, a great variety of traditional costumes and weavings, and much more. You can see and buy an overwhelming variety of attractive, handmade products that honour the traditions of generations of artisans.
