When travelling, there are probably many must-see places on your bucket list, and if you are planning a trip to Guatemala, then you really need to visit Antigua.
Rated as one of the most popular travel destinations in the county, Antigua offers all of the popular touristy things to do, but what makes this city so famous is that fact that it is like stepping into a time machine from 300 years ago.
Antigua is one of my favourite destinations I visited in Central America, here’s more information about this city and why you really should go here.
The Ancient City of Guatemala
Located in the central highlands of Guatemala sits the former colonial capital of Central America, la Antigua Guatemala, or The Old Guatemala. Although this city was founded in the 1500s and housed the nation’s military for over 200 years, it was tragically destroyed during several earthquakes throughout the 1700s. At that time, most of the city was abandoned, but some of its residents stayed behind and inhabited the area. These brave souls are responsible for keeping the city alive and spawning its evolution into one of the most popular tourist sites in Guatemala today.
Attractions
Antigua’s economy is largely driven from income produced by tourism. In fact, it is a very popular destination for tourists and a lot of people who come to Guatemala choose stay in Antigua where they can branch out to other tourist destinations from there.
While wandering through the streets of Antigua, two must-see sights are the Plaza Mayor and the Cathedral Metropolitana. The Plaza Mayor, also known as “Central Park” is home to the La Fuente De Las Sirenas fountain, which was build in 1739. If you are a fan of ancient architecture, The Catedral Metropolitana is a fine example of colonial Spanish times. Built in 1543, it was destroyed in the earthquakes that eventually took down most of the city in the 1700s; however, it has partially been restored and preserved back to its original beauty.
The monuments or ruins located in Antigua make it one of the best-preserved Spanish colonial cities in Spanish America. These ruins are part of what attracts tourist to this ancient city, some of which are accessible for free, and others charge a fee anywhere from reasonable to rather pricey, depending upon the location. A lot of the city is still in ruins, They just never really built it completely back up, but a lot of it is not and everything is painted in these really bright colors.
The ladies down there are famous for making handmade beautiful clothing. Most people who travel to Antigua come home with a suitcase of handcrafted items, including beautiful clothing. These handmade items honor the traditions of many generations of Antiguan artist and because items are so reasonably priced, this is a great way to bring home souvenir gifts to your friends and family. Handcrafted wooden masks and figurines, clothing and jewelry are some of the top sellers.
If you love art and find yourself gravitating to destinations that offer you a chance to learn about a foreign culture through their artistic expression, then Antigua is certainly a place you would enjoy! Antigua is home to many art galleries that offer exhibits throughout the year. If museums are on your list, then check out The Colonial Museum, The Historic Book Museum, and The Santiago Museum.
If you would also like to study Spanish in Latin America, then Antigua is a really popular destination.
Day Trips & Excursions
Antigua also offers some fun activities and excursions. Because this city is well known for its coffee farms, one of the fun things that you can do on your travels is to spend an entire day at a local coffee farm in where you will learn how to pick, process, and roast your own bag coffee that you can take home with you. Or if you prefer chocolate, a local Antigua company also offers classes on how to craft your very own chocolate bar from cocoa beans. Both of these activities are reasonably priced.
Visiting Antigua Guatemala is like going back in time. The colonial architecture lined cobblestone streets of this city are full of culture and offer something for everyone including history, art, architecture, and fantastic shopping. If you are planning a trip to Central America, make sure you include Antigua as one of your stops.