Five hundred years of marriage of land and sky
Antigua Guatemala is a well-known cultural icon in Guatemala, that is also one of the must-visit cities when traveling in the Central American region. Founded in 1544, this magical city has not only been a UNESCO site since the late 70’s, but it is also a well-known travel jewel often visited by people of many countries near and far.
One big part of what makes this city so special is the zealous preservation of the colonial-era buildings and have stood the test of time and progress in the days of ultra modern cities with their neon lights, multi-story buildings and overpopulation. With its cobblestone streets, one-story houses painted in pastel colors and impressive church ruins, the city invites its visitors to slow down the pace and, if possible, to walk around instead of sitting comfortably in a temperature-controlled car cabin.
But, what is a city with its colonial heritage carefully preserved without its inhabitants? It would certainly be part of a museum exhibition. Without doubt, the other big part that makes this city unique is the Mayan descents that make up nearly half of the total population are as interesting as the architecture of this city. Unlike other parts of the world where the indigenous population is kept as some kind of “attraction” for the visitors, in Guatemala this group is increasingly incorporated into the social fabric.
Beyond the cultural and ethnic elements, I personally think that another factor that makes this city unforgettable is the ever-present sight of the Agua Volcano that rests watchful just south of the city. The towering height of this extinct volcano makes for the lack of tall buildings in the city. The settlements scattered across its slopes create an optical illusion of the land stretching towards the sky.
A visit to Antigua with a different set of eyes
In none of my previous visits to “La Antigua” was I prepared with a camera ready to capture the life as it happens in such an iconic place. Due to my previous visits to this city, I knew very well that I only had to walk through its streets and the moments would just emerge naturally without much effort.
On the other hand, I never had such a limited time for exploration as I did this time. With only a weekend for a round trip to La Antigua, I tried to make the most of my time (literally the time of just one morning) there between quality time with my family and travel photography.
Thus, after an abundant traditional breakfast that included fried black beans, fried bananas and a cup of freshly brewed black coffee from locally sourced coffee beans, it was a race against the clock to walk the streets. Fortunately for my purposes, the weather was in my favor after a torrential rain the night before when we arrived into the city, with clear blue skies and good visibility.
Additionally, here is a short video I made about this super brief trip to La Antigua: