LA ANTIGUA GUATEMALA

1. LA ANTIGUA GUATEMALA

2. Location: La Antigua Guatemala is located in the Panchoy valley, in the south-central part of the Country, surrounded by three volcanoes called Agua (water), Fuego (fire) and Acatenango. It is famous for its well preserved New World baroque architecture, as for its great number of impressive ruins of churches and monasteries. It was declared Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO in 1979. Originally called La Muy Noble y Leal Ciudad de Santiago de Los Caballeros de Guatemala, it was the third location of the capital of the Kigdom of Guatemala during the Spanish Conquest. During its development and age of splendor it was considered one of the three most beautiful cities of the Spanish Indies, particularly due to the beauty of the religious images of the XVI and XVII centuries. In 1773, an earthquake destroyed the city, which was relocated for the fouth time to valley, were Guatemala City currently stands.

4. The first formal establishment as a capital was on July 25, 1524 by Don Pedro de Alvarado, who was sent by Hernán Cortés from México to conquer Guatemala in December of 1523. Alvarado, taking advantage of the constant rivalry between the different Mayan ethnic groups, came through the highlands and coersed them to fight each other to achieve his objective. This city was christened Santiago de Los Caballeros, on the day of the Patron Saint Santiago(James) and was used as a military garrison commanded by Don Pedro de Alvarado, who treated the natives with such brutality, forcing them to flee to remote places and to hide in the woods. The evangelization as a mean of conquering was used in different regions of the country, but the main motive of the conquest was the enrichment of the Spanish kingdom. However, the escape of the natives to the mountains due to the Spaniards’ treatment greatly affected their main objective.

7. On November 22, 1527 and keeping the name of Santiago de Guatemala, a new city was established in the slopes of what is today known as the Volcán de Agua (water volcano). Pedro de Alvarado dedicated himself fully to the conquest, leaving his brother Jorge in charge of the administrative responsibility of the city. To this date, a cakchiquel group exists in Peru because Don Pedro de Alvarado constructed a fleet and took them along with him in the Spanish conquering army. Some historians recount that Alvarado brought the Dominican friars, among them Fr. Betanzós, who tried to start a convent and later declined being the first bishop of Guatemala. This important post was given to Francisco Marroquín, who founded a diocese in 1534 and invited important Dominican friars such as Fr. Bartolomé de las Casas and Frei Pedro de Angulo.

9. Due to the importance given to evangelization by the conquerors and to the political influence of the Church, urbanization work began around 1540. Today its possible to see in the outskirts of Santiago de Guatemala the colonial temples build to evangelize and allow the scattered natives that lived in small groups to listen to doctrine and attend mass. In 1541 the capital was in mourning, its palace painted black by Beatriz de la Cueva due to the death of Don Pedro de Alvarado in the battle of Nochiztlán, México, and a terrible loss not only to his widow but to the invading empire. But this was just an omen of the nightmare to come. Doña Beatriz was named governor on September 9, 1541. At first she signed the Act as "The ill fated Doña Beatriz", but then crossed her name. She ruled for only 40 hours, while a dismal and strong storm fell over the region. A midnight earthquake broke the cone of the volcano, which was full of water, and the resulting mudslide buried the governor and her company ladies, who were sheltering in the palace’s chapel, while the rest of the city lay in rubble on that tragic night.

11. In 1542 the “Audiencia de los Confines” or General Captaincy of Guatemala was founded and it established the City of Santiago de Guatemala as its capital. On March 10th, 1543 the first town meeting of the Panchoy valley was held and the first lots where assigned to the survivors of the old destroyed city. The city was designed for 5,000 habitants. The main families moved to the center of the city and lesser families and "mestizos" (mixed race) where given lots to build their houses, little by little the city grew and for more than two centuries became the commercial, cultural, politic and religious center of Central America. It was such the importance of this city achieved in the New World that on June 10th 1566, King Phillip II gave it the tittle of the Very Noble and Very Loyal City of St. James of all Knigts. The authority of La Antigua Guatemala reached from what is now Chiapas, Yucatán, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. But during this two centuries it was also hit by several quakes that destroyed many monuments which where constantly reconstructed and enriched with new baroque styles of the XVII century, and in some cases with original Renaissance style, For instance the urban layout can still be appreciated.

12. Many religious temples and government buildings where destroyed by the constant quakes by the time the city of Santiago de Los Caballeros had reached it peak of splendor. But no quake seemed to discourage the local habitants. It wasn’t until July 29, 1773 when the St. Martha’s earthquakes destroyed almost completely the city. This is why the Captain General Martín de Mayorga proposed to the members of the royal “audiencia” to move the city to the Hermitage valley. Many opposed the temporary move that finally became official with the passing of time because of the royal warrants issued. Over time the city was abandoned by most people and its ruins stripped of works of art and colonial furniture. Mayorga got a Royal Warrant from His Majesty approving the provisional move of the capital to the Hermitage valley on January 22, 1774 and the city is known since then as Antigua Guatemala.

15. Antigua Guatemala is a colonial city that still preserves buildings from the XVI century and that can be visited on foot through its ancestral cobblestone streets; third City of Guatemala, founded in 1,543 with the original name of Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala. It was the Spanish colonial capital of Central America, it is known as the "City of perpetual roses" and its habitants as "green bellies“. Currently Antigua Guatemala it’s a cultural patrimony of humanity. It’s notable for its colorful religious celebrations in Holy Week, which precedes Easter. It also has many Spanish schools; it is one of the most popular and recognized places in Latin America for Americans, Canadians and Europeans to study Spanish.

16. Antigua is the capital of the department of Sacatepéquez, in the city survives the original building of the third University of America, San Carlos de Borromeo University, founded by Royal Warrant of Carlos II, dated January 31, 1676, currently a museum and location for classical music concerts. University studies start in Guatemala since the middle XVI century, when the first bishop of the Guatemala Kingdom, Don Francisco Marroquin founds the St. Tomas University School in 1,562 for poor students with the careers of philosophy, law and theology. In Antigua Guatemala it can be appreciated the Palace of the General Captains, the University of San Carlos of Borromeo, the Weapon Museum of Santiago de los Caballeros, the Old Books Museum, parks, plazas, handicraft markets, several shops, hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes with a magic touch that charms all visitors. Some of the main ruins and tourist attractions are: Church and Convent of Capuchinas, Compañía de Jesus, San. José Cathedral, Ruins of San José el Viejo, Old Weapons Museum, Hermit of the Holly Cross, Church Escuela de Cristo, Church of St. Francis, Old Books museum, Jade museum and Indian costumes museum.

17. Besides its religious traditions, Antigua has true family legacies that translate into popular handicrafts beautifully crafted, in food with an ensemble of flavors that follow inherited recipes and in histories that the grandparents tell their grandsons, about apparitions and suffering souls. Handicraft traditions Handicrafts are the artistic expressions that give identity to a people and whose manufacturing techniques are not taught in books but through words and the example given by parents to sons and daughters. Among the traditional handicrafts made by Antigua’s families and those live living in the outskirts, the ceramics, candle making, weaving, carpentry and metal forging stand out. Gastronomic traditions Guatemalan cuisine is a product of the blend of recipes, art and inherited tradition, it gives identity to each of the corners of the country, and Antigua is no exception. The city offers from simple places to luxurious restaurants, where the common denominator is the flavor of the typical food. We suggest you try the tasty chiles rellenos, chuchitos, tamales, tostadas, enchiladas and rellenitos, that can be easily bought in a store, or more elaborate dishes as pepián, refried beans, piloyes, revolcado (pork stew) and the famous fiambre.

19. Every year the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is commemorated in the city. Lent and Holy Week have here a special expression, since this is a town that fervently celebrates these traditions. Among them are the famous sawdust multicolored carpets that make the streets beautiful, the impressive wake altars found in every church and the majestic processions that remind passages of the life of Jesus Christ.

21. Distance from Guatemala City: 45 Km How to get there? If you are traveling by car from Guatemala City, follow the Interamerican highway up to San Lucas and take the highway to Antigua. Ground transportation. From other tourist locations such as Panajachel, Quetzaltenango or Chichicastenango tours or shuttles are available for Antigua Guatemala. Driving time from Guatemala City:45 minutes.

27. Accommodations: Porta Hotel Antigua has 110 rooms distributed as: 01 master suite. 02 junior suite. 04 Suites 57 premium. 22 deluxe. 24 standard. We have rooms specially conditioned for wheel chair access.

28. In-Hotel Dining: Restaurant Los Moros. Full service offering traditional guatemalan dishes and international cuisine. Bar El Conquistador. Offering a snack menu. Bistro / Bar El Mesón del Obispo. A light menu with specials during lunch and dinner. Snack / Bar by the main pool. Parrillada and buffet on Sunday and official festivities.

33. Facilities for Meetings and Special Events: Convention Center with 7 meeting rooms with a capacity from 10 to up to 420 persons, designed to satisfy the highest expectations of our clients with all the support and audio visual equipment, internet, etc., needed to carry out the highest quality corporate event. Our gardens and patio with capacity for up to 600 persons are the perfect setties to celebrate those special social events such as weddings, first communions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, etc. Our staff will be happy to assist you with programs and entertainment contacts, special that are available for cocktails, banquets, dinners, buffets, luncheons, seminars. The hotel also offers Catering Service.

34. For Meetings and Incentive Groups we have a variety of activities, montages and venues for entertainment.

36. Guest Services and Recreation: - Concierge. - Babysitter.* - Physician.* - Taxi.* - Laundry.* - Business Center.* - Comfort Zone Spa/Gym (2009).* - Shuttle Service from the hotel to Guatemala City international airport and vice versa.* - Parking. - Safety deposit boxes. - Cable/TV. - Wireless Internet. - Souvenir Store. - Tour Operator. - Car Rentals.

37. - Money Exchanged. - Reading Saloon. - Pool. - Lap Pool. - Kid's Club. - Themed tours within La Antigua Guatemala. * Available upon request, with an additional fee.

41. Sales Offices In Guatemala City: 13 calle 7-74, zona 9 Local No. 2 Plaza Princess - Guatemala, Centroamérica. Phones: (502) 2361-9683 al 85 Fax: (502) 2361-9667 / 2332-2100 E-mail: ventasantigua@portahotels.com In La Antigua Guatemala: 8a calle poniente No.1, La Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez. Phones: (502) 7832-2801 al 04 / 7832-0288 Fax: (502) 7832-0807 E-mail: ventasantigua@portahotels.com Página web: www.portahotels.com