What is the architecture like in Guatemala?
While modern Guatemalan architecture is moving more towards functional structures, with multi-story concrete apartments on the rise, its sacred Mayan sites are still in use by indigenous populations and contribute significantly to Guatemala’s tourism economy.
What is Antigua Guatemala known for?
Antigua Guatemala is noted chiefly for the ruins of colonial edifices that make it a museum of Spanish colonial history.
Who built Antigua Guatemala?
Founded by Spanish conquistadors in the early 16th century, Antigua served as the capital of Guatemala for more than 230 years until the modern-day capital was established in Guatemala City. Constructed in a grid-like street formation, Antigua is one of the earliest examples of urban planning in Latin America.
What is the oldest building in Guatemala?
Antigua Guatemala Cathedral
| St. James Cathedral San Joseph Parish | |
|---|---|
| Year consecrated | 1541 |
| Status | World Heritage Site |
| Location | |
| Location | Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez |
What volcano destroyed Antigua Guatemala?
Volcán de Fuego
| Volcán de Fuego | |
|---|---|
| Parent range | Sierra Madre |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 200 Kyr |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano (active) |
Where is the arch in Antigua?
The Santa Catalina Arch is the most iconic landmark in Antigua Guatemala. Built in 1694 and located on 5th Avenue North, it originally connected the Santa Catalina Convent to a school on the other side of the street.
How many volcanoes are in Antigua Guatemala?
Four volcanoes make up this region’s sector of a seismic spine that runs the width of Guatemala from the Mexican to Salvadoran borders, forming a ridge between the highlands and the Pacific lowlands.