Antigua

The city of Antigua Guatemala is a colonial city in the central highlands of Guatemala. It is a small city surrounded by volcanoes. It is famous for its Spanish colonial buildings, many of them restored after the 1773 earthquake of Santa Marta. The cobblestone streets, the colorful houses, and the architecture of the buildings are characteristics of this colonial city. The city occupies the entirety of what was once the capital of the General Captaincy of Guatemala that was located there from 1543 to 1773, and much of its architecture and design of baroque influence date from that period. These characteristics designated it as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979. The city’s famous Holy Week is well known for its parades and rituals. Nowadays, it is the capital of the department of Sacatepéquez.