Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala (usually referred to as just Antigua) is a city in the central mountains of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish New World Baroque architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruined churches. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Antigua Guatemala means the "old city of Guatemala". It was founded on March 10, 1543. and served as Spanish colonial capital of Central America.
In 1773, it suffered two severe earthquakes, which destroyed much of the town. The Spanish Crown ordered the city rebuilt at a safer location, where what is now Guatemala City, the modern capital of Guatemala. In 1776 the badly damaged city was ordered abandoned, but not everyone left.
Nowadays, Antigua is noted for its very elaborate religious celebrations for the Holy Week leading up to Easter.
There are also many Spanish language schools in the Antigua; it is one of the most popular places in Latin America to study Spanish.
Antigua is the capital of the department of Sacatepéquez.
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