Fountain sights in Antigua
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Iglesia y Convento de Nuestra Señora de la Merced
La Merced is Antigua's most striking colonial church and its construction began in 1548. The most recent of its several bouts of rebuilding has taken place since the 1976 earthquake, and the place is in pretty good shape.
Inside the monastery ruins is a fountain 27m in diameter, said to be the largest in Hispanic America. It's in the shape of a water lily (traditionally a symbol of power for Mayan lords), and lily motifs also appear on the church's entrance arch, suggesting the influence of indigenous laborers used to construct La Merced. Go upstairs for a bird's-eye view of the fountain and the town. A candlelit procession, accompanied by much bell ringing and firecracke…
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Colegio de San Jerónimo
The Colegio de San Jerónimo was built in 1757 and used as a school by friars of the Merced order, but because it did not have royal authorization, it was taken over in 1761 by Spain's Carlos III, and in 1765 designated for use as the Real Aduana (Royal Customs House). Today it's a tranquil, mostly open air site. The handsome cloister centers on a lovely octagonal fountain, which operates most days - it's an evocative setting for various dance and other cultural performances.
Make your way upstairs for some excellent photo angles of Volcán Agua through stone archways.
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