General Background of Antigua
General Background of Antigua
Located in the state of Sacatepequez, the romantic colonial town of La Antigua Guatemala is situated in a valley surrounded by volcanoes. The valley's 5,000 foot altitude provides a pleasant climate all year round. Antigua is such a small city that you can walk everywhere and you don't really need a car even though taxis ("tuc tuc") ara available all over the city.
Antigua was founded in 1524 as the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala. A gem in terms of its layout and as an excellent example of colonial architecture, Antigua has been able to preserve its characteristics, as if time had come to a stop. It was declared Cultural Heritage of Mankind site by UNESCO in 1979 for its immense historic and cultural value. Three hundred years ago, the Santa Marta earthquake shook the city and left its mark on buildings troughout the city. Today the city's romantic ambiance, its cobblestone streets, peaceful parks and fountains, palaces and cathedrals, make Antigua the ideal site to learn Spanish and spend time learning the unique culture of Guatemala.
While Spanish is the official language, indigenous communities speak more than twenty different languages in Guatemala, foremost among them Quiche, Cakchiquel, Mam, and Kekchi. San Felipe, San Juan del Obispo, Santa Maria de Jesus, San Antonio Aguas Calientes, and Santa Catarina Barahona are a few of the indigenous villages which surround Antigua and where handcrafts and traditional weavings are made.
Facts about Sacatepequez
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