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GUATEMALA Antigua

Just 30 miles from bustling Guatemala City, Antigua is indeed a step back in time. With three towering volcanoes providing the backdrop, this picturesque city is well preserved. Cobblestone streets, colonial style facades, restored and still vegetation covered ruins of churches, palaces, convents and mansions add a special atmosphere.

Founded in 1541 following a devastasting earthquake that destroyed the nearby original capital on the slopes of the Agua volcano, Antigua was at its height the cultural center of the Americas. They boasted the thrid printing press in the Americas (1660), a newspaper in 1729, the sixth university in the Americas, founded in 1681 and by 1773 the city had 38 churches as well as monasteries, convents and numerous other ecclesiastical structures.

There is a good selection of hotels, from a growing collection of boutique hotels to small "posada" style to larger properties, and many restaurants. It’s a delightful city to stroll; plan at least an overnight to experience it fully.