Convento de las Capuchinas

What was a walkway used in the 17th century by the nuns of the Convento de Santa Catalina to cross over 5ª Avenida Norte from their cloisters to the parochial school without having to venture into the dusty street, is now the cliché tourist photo op in Antigua. And with good reason — the Arco de Santa Catalina is a lovely sight indeed, crowned by a clock tower that was added a bit later, in the 1830s. Today, the arch is looked after by the Santos family, owners of the nearby jewelry store Reino del Jade and Hotel El Convento.

Erected in 1767 by friars from the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, or Mercedarians, La Merced was one of the few buildings in Antigua to withstand the Santa Marta earthquake that struck seven years later. This was due to the ingenuity of architect Juan de Dios Estrada, who designed the building with his memories and observations of the tremor of 1751 fresh in his mind: the building's modest height, bottom-heavy orientation, wide arches, and robust columns were intended to withstand earthquakes. La Merced was abandoned in 1829 when President Francisco Morazán expelled all clergy from what was then called the Federal Republic of Central America; the church wasn't reopened until 1853, by which time the attached monastery had fallen victim to looters who plundered its building materials for use elsewhere. Today, visitors can take in a distinctive yellow facade that has been called the most beautiful example of Spanish Baroque architecture in Antigua, pay the admission fee for the ruins of the monastery whose courtyard boasts what is reputed to be the largest fountain in Central America (the Mercedarian monks once raised fish in it), or, if you are in town during semana santa (Holy Week, the week before Easter), check out the processions that wind through the streets of old Antigua on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, beginning and ending at the church.

The second church to occupy this site and one of the largest in Central America during its heyday, the Catedral de Antigua Guatemala was built in 1680 to replace its antecessor that dated to 1541. While most of the building was leveled during the earthquake of 1773, the ornate Baroque facade emerged relatively unscathed. While a partial reconstruction beginning in the 19th century has allowed the building to once again be home to a functioning church, other portions of the complex remain in ruins.

Learn how to make chocolate from the cocoa beans. A unique experience where you learn everything about the history of chocolate, the cacao plantations, and the industry of chocolate making. At the end of the class you will make your own chocolate bar at your taste and will be able to bring it back home with you.

This park is a city block in size, with concentric circular walkways threading among trees and a fountain in the middle. The trees are decorated with lights, and there are plenty of benches for sitting and people-watching. The city hall and police office, the cathedral and several banks and tourist businesses line the four sides of the park. Many Antiguans hang out in the park, and it has a pleasant, bustling, friendly feel during the day (at night, slightly less so. Use your judgment).