Highlights of Antigua, Guatemala – Central America’s Most Beautiful Colonial City

Antigua is one of our favorite cities anywhere in Latin America.  It is full of history, dating from the 1700s and is very conveniently located less than an hour’s drive from Guatemala City and its international airport.  Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to dozens of fascinating attractions.  This small city of 50,000 people is filled with cobblestone roads are lined with brightly painted houses and some of Guatemala’s finest restaurants.  Here is a list of the top 5 things we love about this colonial gem of a city.

1. Beautiful Highland Setting – Antigua’s location is nothing short of spectacular.  Surrounded by forested slopes, the city is flanked on three sides by conical volcanoes – To the south, the towering 12,325ft (3,750m) Agua Volcano dominates the view, while the huge 13,900ft (4,235m) Acatenango and the active 12,346ft (3,763m) Fuego volcanoes lie to the west.  These make for a stunning backdrop no matter where you are in the city.  As Antigua lies at an elevation of 5,000ft (1500m), the days are warm and the nights are pleasantly cool year-round, giving the city a delightful climate.

2. Parque Central – Antigua’s main square is undoubtedly the most beautiful in the country, possibly the finest in Central America.  A delightful fountain graces the center of the leafy square, which is a hub of activity for shoe shiners, vendors of all kinds, strolling lovers, tour groups and a meeting place for locals.  It is flanked on the east side by the lovely cathedral and on the north by the town hall, which dates from as early as 1740.  From the arch-lined second floor balcony of this building, there are stunning views of the cathedral and Agua volcano towering over the city.

3. Arco De Santa Catalina – Antigua’s most recognizable landmark, the Santa Catalina Arch lies a short 3 blocks north of the Parque Central.  The arch is all that remains of the city’s old convent dating to 1613.  As the convent occupied buildings on both sides of the street, the arch was constructed so that nuns could cross between buildings while remaining in seclusion and avoiding contact with the general public.  The original was destroyed in a 1773 earthquake and the current version with a clock tower was constructed in the 19th century.  Looking through the arch to the south you’ll find a wonderful view of the Agua volcano.

4. Wandering the cobblestone streets – Antigua is one of the most delightful towns anywhere in Latin America to stroll the streets, marvel at the surrounding architecture and soak up the atmosphere.  The city has a wonderful blend of traditional Mayan and Spanish colonial influences.  The ruins of the old convent with only its roof structure of arches still standing are a lovely backdrop to the bright yellow painted El Merced church and convent, while just around the corner the crafts market is home to some wonderful local handicrafts including the traditional Guatemalan brightly colored textiles that are known worldwide.  Around every corner is an interesting sight or charming restaurant.  We love putting away our map and guidebook and simply exploring this safe, easily navigated city, and seeing where our curiosity takes us.

5. Jade – Guatemala, and in particular the southern highlands surrounding Antigua produces some of the world’s finest jade.  There are numerous levels of quality and colors of jade, a surprise to most visitors who imagine all jade is green; including pink, emerald, yellow, lilac and the rare black jade found only in this part of the world.  There are several jade jewelries around the city center that sell a vast selection of high-quality, tax-free jade.  You will see jade sold from street vendors, however, unless you know exactly what to look for, you should stick to the jewelry stores as the quality of the jade sold on the street is questionable.

Antigua is a lovely, easily accessible city.  With an increasing number of flights to Guatemala City from the U.S., it’s very practical to visit for a long weekend, coupled with a stay at a luxurious boutique hotel and gourmet dining.