Antigua Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala 

Antigua Guatemala is one of the 340 municipalities of the Republic of Guatemala, and is also the head of the department of Sacatepéquez. It has an area of ​​78 square kilometers. It has a city, 22 villages and 14 hamlets. It is considered a World Heritage City by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -UNESCO-

The municipality of Antigua Guatemala limits to the north north with Jocotenango and Santa Lucía Milpas Altas, to the east Santa Lucía Milpas Altas, Magdalena Milpas Altas and Santa María de Jesús and to the west with San Antonio Aguas Calientes and Ciudad Vieja -all of the department of Sacatepéquez- . Its climate is temperate and its titular celebration is celebrated on July 25, as the main day in commemoration of the Apostle Santiago. Antigua Guatemala was officially founded on March 10, 1543 by Pedro de Alvarado, declaring itself the capital of the province. It is located in the Panchoy Valley or Pancán and was the capital of Guatemala until July 29, 1773 the Santa Marta earthquakes damaged it.

History

After the flood of the Almolonga Valley, where it is now Ciudad Vieja, a disaster that occurred on September 11, 1541, the need arose to move the city to a safer place. After several consultations in open councils, the one appointed by the King of Spain, Juan Bautista Antonelli, prepared a report from another place that he considered was the right one to make the transfer. The place was the Panchoy Valley, whose etymological meaning is Laguna Grande, since it was a land with a spacious plain, with plenty of water and supplies. Being this place the most suitable for the new city, the first works were made in November 1542, for the transfer of Santiago de los Caballeros

Demography 

Antigua Guatemala has a population of 41 097 people, according to the national census conducted in 2002. Of that amount, 19 938 are men and 21 159 are women, while 32 218 live in the urban area while 8 879 are in the urban area. rural area

         

                                                                                                           Culture

Its most important cultural tradition is undoubtedly the celebration of Holy Week, a time when the city is very popular with Guatemalan tourists and foreign tourists to admire the majesty of its processions, not only of the city but also of its neighboring villages. During the week folk dances such as La Conquista or El Venado are also presented

Economy 

The main agricultural crop of the municipality of Antigua Guatemala is coffee, and fruits and vegetables are also produced