Antigua History Facts and Timeline

(Antigua, Central Highlands, Guatemala)

One of the first capitals of Guatemala, Antigua has a history immersed in both Spanish colonialism and natural disasters.

Though earthquakes have ruined much of the glory of this highland city, there is still enough colonial charm to warrant World Heritage status. Antigua is currently known for its high-quality coffee, but its economy is also heavily driven by tourism.

Third Time Lucky

When the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado y Contreras and his troops moved into modern-day northern Guatemala, they encountered the fierce Quiche Maya people. The Spanish defeated the Maya in 1523 and Alvarado set up his capital amidst the remains of the former Mayan city of Iximche.


Alvarado betrayed the Kaqchikel allies who had helped him defeat the Quiche, however, and the uprising that ensued forced the Spanish to move the capital to a safer location in the neighbouring Alotenango Valley

In 1541, a sudden volcanic mudslide wiped out the second capital and so the Spanish moved again. In 1543, they settled on the site of today's Antigua, and finally a permanent capital was founded, which they called the Ciudad de los Caballeros de Santiago.

History of the Spanish Capital

For the next two centuries, Antigua (Santiago) served as the seat of power for the Spanish colony of Guatemala, a territory that covered nearly all of modern-day Central America. This stable period allowed the Spanish to build most of the colonial-era buildings, churches and plazas that still stand today in the centre of Antigua.

Earthquake Disasters

The 1700s were a rough century for the history of Antigua. In the year of 1717, a powerful earthquake struck the town and levelled in excess of 3,000 houses and buildings. Just as life was returning to normal, a series of earthquakes struck two years later and these virtually destroyed the entire city. As a direct result of this unpredictable seismic activity, the Spanish decided that it would be prudent to move their capital to Guatemala City the following year.

Those Who Stayed Behind

Not everyone left the ruins of the city. The indigenous Maya who stayed renamed the city Antigua Guatemala (Ancient Guatemala) and slowly rebuilt their beloved city. When Guatemala gained its independence from Spain in 1823, Antigua was named the capital of the newly-created Sacatepequez Province within the Federation of Central America.

Tourism to the Rescue

Enough of the original Spanish colonial architecture survived the 1773 earthquake to enable Antigua to restore many buildings and churches. Such is the value of this historic district that UNESCO designated it a World Heritage site in 1979. This has helped create a strong tourist economy to add to the thriving coffee industry in the surrounding valley.

Though many of the colonial buildings and monasteries are still in ruins, they have been cleaned up and organised for tourism. The city's Holy Week (Semana Santa) is a particularly popular annual event, and the indigenous Quiche (K'iche') culture is still largely intact. As Antigua is surrounded by volcanoes, the city also serves as a well-placed base for expeditions to climb their slopes.