Antigua, Guatemela - Shopping, Food & History
I ventured from my home base on Lake Atitlan to visit Antigua. a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once the capital of Guatemala, for a three day trip. On the first day, I fell in love with the town’s charm and knew I wanted to explore it thoroughly! With Catholic churches, historic buildings, refurbished historic sites, boutique shops, upscale restaurants, cafes, and street markets, Antigua is a remarkable and unique destination.
I immediately extended my stay…
Santa Catalina Arch is located on an old cobblestone street and frames the Volcan de Agua volcano.
The town’s facade is completely deceptive.
Imagine block after block, street after street of plain, concrete, one story buildings with little architectural interest. Then you step inside, and it’s like stepping through Alice’s looking glass!
Many shops and restaurants extend deep into the buildings, have beautiful interiors, and many have courtyards with open-air gardens.
Antigua has a rich and diverse culinary scene.
There are many dining options to choose from, ranging from casual cafes to upscale restaurants and the town offers a wide variety of international cuisines.
I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experiences here!
One of my favorite meals was at Caoba Farms’ farm-to-table restaurant. The ingredients are organic and are grown or raised at the farm, and the meal was delicious.
I also enjoyed walking around the farm which produces a wide variety of crops using bio-intensive agriculture and houses several types of animals.
It’s an extraordinay place…
The National Museum of Art Guatemala
This museum contains artwork spanning 3000 years, from prehistoric to modern day. Located within the Captain General Palace, once the seat of the Spanish ruling government, the museum opened in September of 2021. Some of the oldest pieces come from archeological sites, including the famed Tikal Mayan ruins.
One of the stunning works of art in the museum.
If you love shopping for unique, locally handcrafted items, Antigua offers endless opportunities to enchant you! Art, textiles, pottery, jewelry, wooden decorative items, and leather goods are all available and many items are very reasonably priced.
Guatemalan jade, which symbolized power, status, good luck, and eternity to the early Mayans, was not mined for over 500 years during the Spanish occupation of the country. The jade trade industry was reestablished in 1974, and today skilled artisans craft beautiful pieces which are showcased in Antigua shops.
Cerro de La Cruz
Cerro de La Cruz, meaning Hill of the Cross, is a lovely little park with a fantastic view of Antigua and Volcon de Agua. If you find the right perspective, looking to the right, you can see Volcan de Fuego erupting in billowing white smoke!
Iglesia de La Merced built in 1546 was destroyed twice by earthquakes (read more about the devastating Antigua earthquakes and the church’s monastary ruins here) and rebuilt in the 1700s. This Catholic church still holds services.