Casa Capuchinas
Bed & Breakfast
Antigua City, Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala's fascinating history

Commonly known as "La Antigua Guatemala", the colonial capital was founded at this site with the original name of Santiago de Guatemala in 1543. The Spanish chose this site because the previous capital had flooded in 1541 and the valley had an adequate source of water. The countryside surrounding Antigua Guatemala also offers good agricultural land.

While this was part of the Viceroyalty of Mexico, Guatemala functioned separately and included part of what is now Chiapas, Yucatán, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. This was the religious, cultural, economic and political center for the area until the capital was moved to Guatemala City after the serious earthquakes in 1773. This move is credited with having preserved the previous capital. The architecture you see today, dates mostly from the 17th and 18th centuries. Without a doubt, Antigua Guatemala is a diamond adorning the graceful neck of Central America.

Antigua Guatemala is similar in size to it's colonial era. Quaint cobbled streets and colonial architecture are the main theme of the city. Antigua Guatemala was one of the first planned cities in the New World. There are over 50 monumental buildings including convents, churches and monasteries. The main buildings of Antigua Guatemala are located near the Main Square: the Palace of the City Hall, the Palace of the Captains General,  Cathedral and Archbishop's Palace. Many houses of the colonial era have also been preserved.

Antigua Guatemala slumbered in anonymity throughout the 19th century, but realising the value of this forgotten treasure, Antigua Guatemala was declared a national monument in 1944. Many of the monumental buildings had been used for building materials until that time. In 1969, Congress passed a Protective Law for La Antigua Guatemala (Decree 60-69) founding the National Council for the Protection for La Antigua Guatemala. Through their efforts conservation and restoration of the historical buildings have given much of the city its colonial character.

During the late 1980's, Antigua Guatemala saw an array of new cultural activities including art galleries and exhibits, performing and popular arts, and cultural tourism. Today Spanish language schools number in excess of  80 and offer an economic base for part of the city's population.

While visiting Antigua Guatemala, you can experience the bold new face of Antigua, while merging into the historic treasures which make Antigua Guatemala so unique.

If a stay in the ancient city of Antigua Guatemala sounds right for you, then please ensure your choice of stay is Casa Capuchinas. You will be very welcome.
 

Casa Capuchinas Bed & Breakfast, Antigua, Guatemala.
Guatemala Bed and Breakfast, Antigua Guatemala B&B, Antigua B&B, Antigua Bed & Breakfast
Property Registration Number: 1171
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