Must-see attractions in Antigua

  • Top Choice
    Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo

    Founded by Dominican friars in 1542, Santo Domingo became the biggest and richest monastery in Antigua. Following three 18th-century earthquakes, the…

  • Top Choice
    Iglesia Merced

    At the northern end of 5a Av is La Merced – a striking yellow building trimmed with white plaster filigree. Its facade is one of the most beautiful in…

  • Top Choice
    Arco de Santa Catalina

    The Arco de Santa Catalina is Antigua's most iconic monument, and an early-morning or late-afternoon photo opportunity framing Volcán Agua through its…

  • Catedral de Santiago

    Antigua's cathedral was begun in 1545, wrecked by the quake of 1773, and only partially rebuilt over the next century. The present sliver of a church –…

  • Parque Central

    Surrounded by superb colonial structures, this broad and beautiful plaza is the gathering place for antigüeños and visitors alike – a fine, verdant place…

  • Iglesia y Convento de la Recolección

    A serene air pervades the remains of the monastery of La Recolección, which stands well west of the center. Erected in the early 18th century by the…

  • Convento de Capuchinas

    Inaugurated in 1736 by nuns from Madrid, the convent of Las Capuchinas was seriously damaged by the 1773 earthquake and thereafter abandoned. Thanks to…

  • Colegio de San Jerónimo

    Completed in 1757, the Colegio de San Jerónimo was used as a school by friars of the Merced order, but because it did not have royal authorization, it was…

  • Palacio de los Capitanes Generales

    Dating from 1549, the palace was colonial headquarters for all of Central America, from Chiapas to Costa Rica, until the capital was relocated in 1776…

  • Museo del Libro Antiguo

    The fascinating Museo del Libro Antiguo showcases the greatest hits of the early days of Guatemalan printing, plus a replica of Guatemala's first printing…

  • Cerro de la Cruz

    Well worth the ascent, Cerro de la Cruz provides fine views looking south over town toward Volcán Agua. The prominent cross at the head of the lookout…

  • La Antigua Galería de Arte

    Displaying works by more than 70 Guatemalan artists in the halls and patio of a colonial mansion, Antigua's premier art gallery merits an extended visit…

  • Cementerio General

    Antigua's municipal cemetery, southwest of the market and bus terminal, is a conglomeration of tombs and mausoleums decked with wreaths, exotic flowers…

  • Iglesia de San Francisco

    This church is imbued with the spirit of Hermano Pedro de San José de Bethancourt, a Franciscan monk who founded a hospital for the poor in Antigua and…

  • Iglesia y Convento de Santa Clara

    Established by sisters from Puebla, Mexico, Santa Clara was inaugurated in 1734, destroyed four decades later by the great quake and abandoned…

  • Palacio del Ayuntamiento

    This double-decker structure on the north side of the park dates from the 18th century. Besides town offices, the palace houses the Museo del Libro…

  • Choco Museo

    It was the Maya who discovered the culinary uses of the cacao bean, which later became a form of currency for the Aztec empire. These are a few of the…

  • Iglesia El Carmen

    The church is not open to the public, but the partially destroyed facade with its multiple carved columns is a marvel. What we see today is what's left of…

  • Iglesia de San José El Viejo

    Originally built as a shrine to house the image of Saint Joseph, this church stood completed for just 11 years before the 1773 earthquake laid it low. Its…