ANTIGUA GUATEMALA
At 1,530 meters above sea level and surrounded by volcanoes Water (3,750 m.), Acatenango (3,960 m.) and Fuego (3,800 m.), the ancient capital of the captain general of Guatemala, is a colonial jewel, which has been declared by UNESCO heritage of Humanity.
Founded in 1543 by Don Pedro de Alvarado, was built and rebuilt many times because of the earthquakes that regularly hit the valley on which it sits.
This process of reconstruction has left in the city architectural style varied but whose chronology stops in 1773, the date on which the capital is moved to another site. Since then not again built in the city and this is like a museum of living stones which makes no secret of his nostalgic desire to live forever in the past.
Tens of colonial buildings have been left as a token of that glorious past. From the main square, the Italian architect Antonelli created in 1543 layout damero in the city. In this square is the City Hall, officially opened in 1743, the Archbishop's palace, the cathedral, consecrated to 1565, and the Palace of the Captains General, residence and office of captain.
Throughout the city rose convents, churches or palaces that show the subtlety of colonial architecture. The convent of Santa Catalina, inaugurated in 1613, was the smallest of the eleven existing convents on these dates, and was not completed until 1647.
The church of La Merced is the work of the brothers mercedarios, which were the first to settle there after the conquest. The convent of the Capuchin monastery is the last built in Antigua and occupied solely by twenty eight professed.
In addition to these, other buildings and much ornaments colonial underscored give the old city that does believe that the traveler all of a sudden you get a swordsman by any corner of justice: the convent of the collection, St. Augustine, iglesia del Carmen, the University of San Carlos Borromeo, the home of the lions, lanterns carved metal, stone street all this reminds us a Spain that no longer exists.
Guatemala City
Founded officially on January 2, 1776, was built as an alternative to the problems of earthquakes that suffered the ancient capital of the captaincy.
It was originally built in colonial style, but gradually imposed a neoclassical inherited from Europe and especially France. The earthquake also destroyed the city several times and today is one more example of anarchic growth that have suffered most of the Latin American capitals.
It could appoint, in a generous attempt to highlight some constructions, the National Palace, seat of government of the nation.
The cathedral, built between 1782 and 1865, is located adjacent to the palace, in the central plaza. Across the central area, also known as Zone 1, is experiencing a bustling backstreets with hundreds of shops and stuffs mobile objects cheap.
In the zone 2 is possible to observe a relief map of the country with 1,800 m2.
Areas 9 and 10 are called "living area" as it is here where you can find the best restaurants, bars, shops and luxury hotels.
Quetzaltenango
Also known as Xelajú, in Quiche behalf of the city.
It is the second city in population size. Founded in 1524 by Don Pedro de Alvarado. During the peak years of coffee (the late nineteenth century), Quetzaltenango, experienced spectacular growth and moved from a village closer to one of the most important cities in Central America.
Proceeds from this boom towering mansions were built of stone that still retain the manor and then to contrast with the modest farmhouses that are erected around.
Park Central is flanked by neoclassical buildings lava stone, like the cathedral, the town hall and the home of culture.
Quetzaltenango is a quiet provincial city that retains certain ínfulas of greatness.
Coban
Founded by the Dominicans, Coban Charles V received the title of imperial city and its shield in 1558.
In the late nineteenth century received a major German immigration exploded coffee lands, which have left a deep impression on him, not only culturally but also population, as it is not difficult to find cobaneros blond metro eighties.
But the most remarkable aspect at the moment is that this is the last great population of the plateau before starting falls into the jungles of Peten.
It is, arguably, the end of the plateau and the principle of the Guatemalan jungle.
Chichicastenango
Chichicastenango is known for his famous indigenous market that is held every Thursday and Sunday, however, the visitor is surprised to find, beyond the commercial bustle of a village attractive colonial flavor.
Both elements define the personality of this town: the sober colonial buildings and the colors of its inhabitants.
In the center, at one end of the square stands the church of St. Thomas, where the father Ximenez found the manuscript of the Popol Vuh Bible or the Maya-Quiché.
The great staircase access to the church is built on an ancient place of worship, and even today the Mayan priests performed on it some of their rites of purification.
A few hundred meters on the outskirts of Chichicastenango begins ascent to Mt Tuscaj where the stone is dedicated to World Pascual Abaj or God is revered throughout the region.
To climb up there too priests to fulfill the requests and make offerings relevant. At any time of day, the traveler can observe these rituals, which usually welcome if it is about respect.
Cancun
In the seventies it was decided to create an alternative in Mexico to Acapulco tourism, already in decline by their saturation.
That idea was born Cancun, which at that time was no more than a desert island, 24 kilometers in the form of Ly separated from the coast by two narrow channels, which left a gap in the middle.
In a few years joined the island to land, built roads, hotels, an airport and all the facilities necessary to turn this virgin land in a luxury emporium with all the amenities. Its beaches, but not lost any of the charm that makes a tropical paradise.
At present Cancun has more than twenty thousand hotel beds, hundreds of restaurants, shops, bars and everything needed to serve the beach tourism and entertainment.
Merida
Merida, one of the most attractive colonial cities of America was founded by Francisco de Montejo the January 6, 1542 and gave him that name because the Mayan ruins on which he built his city reminded the ruins of the Roman Merida.
Its layout reproduces all the colonial cities, trying to imitate the Spanish population at the time, with a central plaza at the center and distributed its streets at right angles.
In the square in Merida shows the former home of Montejo, the government palace and the cathedral was built between 1562 and 1598 being the first completed in the Americas.
Many convents such as San Francisco or churches such as Santa Isabel give the city that aspect old colonial cities have.
Early this century the city was extended with construction styles that imitated French neoclassical and later neomayas.
One example is the walkway or Montejo Avenue Itza.
San Cristobal Las Casas
San Cristobal is the most enjoyable for many of the colonial cities of the Maya area. Its Baroque buildings, the air of the mountains and a population, mainly indigenous, gives you a very special flavor.
It has more than 100,000 inhabitants but the recollection of the streets makes it look like a bustling city.
In the Zocalo, or central plaza highlights on the rest of architectural Cathedral ocher color and websites below which various goods are sold in puestecillos improvised.
Other churches such as Santo Domingo del Carmen or compose an architectural completing the houses and neighborhoods of Indians.
Apostolos Andreas Xecul.
In San Andreas Xecul, a small indigenous village near Quetzaltenango, can be seen the traditional adobe houses with tile roofs. However, its main attraction is the facade of the church, and whose colorful naif style decor seems designed by the school children of the village.
Flores
Capital of the department of Peten Guatemala, the people of Flores, stands on a small island in Lake Peten Itza. There are departmental offices as well as numerous national and international organizations for the protection of the environment.
The lake, where floods are unpredictable, is a constant threat to the survival of the population.
Livingston
Livingston is a small population living in the mouth of the Rio Dulce, Guatemala in the Caribbean. Although it is on land, is accessible only by water as there is no road that crosses the jungle that surrounds.
Its inhabitants are black and speak a language they call Garifuna and that is a mixture of Creole, English and Kekchí. In society Garifuna women have a vital role, as there can be less because of its African origin.
They are the heirs of the tradition and the men who hope that at present, migrating to the United States in search of fortune.
During the day fishing or rests on the night danced reggae and calypso in any of the numerous bars that there along the beach.
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