Parque Central
 The
graceful Central Park or Plaza Mayor is the heart of Antigua.
It has a mermaid fountain in its center built in 1739 by Diego
de Porres. There are four smaller fountains at each corner of
the park.
Central Park has historical monuments surrounding it. La Catedral
Metropolitana is to the east, El Palacio de los Capitanes Generales(Palace
of the captains and generals) to the south, El Portal del Comercio(trade
arcade) and the city hall to the north. During
the evenings the park is bustling with activity where families
come to relax and enjoy the mariachi or marimba bands that play
in the park.
Palacio de los Capitanes
Palacio de los Capitanes located south of the Plaza Mayor, was
the seat of the Spanish colonial government for over 200 years.
The original building was constructed in 1558 and has been repeatedly
destroyed and reconstructed due to earthquakes. The building as
it stands today was constructed in 1735 and housed the Mint. The
building is still in use today and holds the
police and other government offices.
Catedral de Santiago
 The
Cathedral of Santiago is located on the east side of the Plaza
Mayor. The original church was built in 1543, and was ruined by
several earthquakes.
Today only its magnificent
outer shell remains which is a reconstruction of what
the cathedral looked like before it fell. Inside is a vast
array of fallen arches broken columns and collapsed walls. Remains
of many dignitaries of the colonial period, such as Don Pedro
de Alvarado, were buried under the cathedral.
Palacio del Ayuntamiento
This Palace is built in
the nineteenth century eclectic style and was used as the headquarters
of the city government. There are still government offices on
the first floor. The palace houses the Museum of Santiago which
has a collection of colonial furnishings,
artifacts and weapons. It also houses the colonial
prison and the Old Book Museum
which has exhibits of colonial printing and binding.
Universidad de San Carlos
In 1676, the Royal and Pontifical University of San Carlos was
founded in Antigua. At the time, students could obtain degrees
in Theology, Arts, Law, and Medicine. Built in moorish style the
rooms are set off an ornamented arched passageway around the patio
and central fountain. The building withstood the earthquake of
1773 and with some renovations in 1832 it was converted into a
public school. Today the university
houses the colonial museum which exhibits art from the colonial
period depicting life in old Guatemala.
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