GUATEMALA THE LAND OF BEAUTY Antigua Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala - The very first capital of the Colonial Era During the Capitania General

Colonial times in Guatemala had an incredible impact on the first settlement of the capital. If you truly want to experience a "back-to-the-past" town, then Antigua Guatemala is the answer. The kingdom of Guatemala

My wife, daughter and self in Antigua, Guatemala's Central Plaza

My sister and daughter at an art museum and ancient monastery

The Kingdom of Guatemala

Colonial times, in Guatemala were ruled by a captain-general, (Capitania General), which stretched from Chiapas, Mexico to the border of Panama. In it, the Conquistadores, sought to erect a miniature Spain. The Spaniards who came to the New World did not see themselves as frontier dwellers doing without the comforts and familiar things of life at home. Towns were laid out according to the traditional Spanish pattern, and architecture, with public buildings, churches and residential quarters set around a plaza and market. Governors, priests, judges, artists and craftsmen were "imported" to build and administer the Spanish order in the Kingdom.

The capital of the kingdom ws the third city of Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, today's Antigua, Guatemala. It ranked with Mexico City and Lima as one of the great metropolises of the hemisphere. On the top picture you will notice the Palace of the Captains-Generals, right under the Volcan de Agua. This was, and still is, a great building with a two-story colonnade (rows of columns), representing the authority of the of the king of Spain. Competing with it, both architecturally and symbolically, was the Cathedral, (see same pic at to the left), a massive structure with three naves, numerous chapels, and ample gold in its decorations and facade. The make up of the whole town was to resemble Spain, and even now, when one wonders through the city, you will notice the exquisite detail of decoration on each ancient door. Those doors are huge and they have such intriguing and miniature detailed sculpturing - makes one wonder how long it would have taken those people to finish just one of those "Portones".

As a final note, you will see dozens of churches in Santiago, as well as monasteries, and cloisters that provided a pricely life for the clergy - sometimes full of intriguing stories.

Colonial Guatemala Back Home

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