ANTIGUA GUATEMALA. SACATEPÉQUEZ.

Antigua Guatemala is one of my favorite places to go every Sunday that I can.

The city of Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala and popularly named today as Antigua Guatemala, is the head of the municipality of Sacatepéquez, Guatemala; Is located approximately 45 kilometers west of the capital of Guatemala.

In the 21st century it is a major Guatemalan tourist destination for its well-preserved Spanish baroque architecture with Baroque façades of the New World, as well as a large number of ruins of Catholic churches, even after their structures were severely damaged by the abandonment in which were between 1776 and 1940, and the earthquakes of 1874, 1917 and 1976. It is also recognized by the solemn processions of "Semana Santa" that have been held annually since before the transfer of the capital to New Guatemala.

One can walk through the cobbled streets, seeing the architecture of the houses and meeting new people. Personally, my favorite place is the ruins of Convento la Recolección and Santa Catalina Arch.

The Santa Catalina Arch is one of the distinguishable landmarks in Antigua Guatemala

Located on 5th Avenue North. Built in the 17th century, it originally connected the Santa Catalina convent to a school, allowing the cloistered nuns to pass from one building to the other without going out on the street.