| Moving cities are normally reserved for fairy tales; | | | | Spanish colony of Guatemala, reaching its estimated |
| castles in the sky and mythical kingdoms. The last | | | | peak of population at around 60,000, until the next big |
| place you'd expect to find such a place would be | | | | shakeup. |
| Antigua in Guatemala, but once you arrive it's not | | | | The capital leaves, Antigua stays |
| difficult to believe. | | | | Shakeup it literally was, an earthquake measuring 7.4 |
| Walking down cobbled streets in the chill of the early | | | | on the Richter scale hit Antigua on September 29, 1717. |
| morning, the sunlight brings alive the colours in the | | | | 3000 buildings were destroyed and the government |
| colonial city walls. A mist lies blanketing the lower | | | | gave serious consideration to moving its base of |
| slopes of the imposing Volcan de Agua that rises | | | | operations. This decision was made for them in 1773 |
| above Antigua to the south. Passing churches and | | | | when the Santa Maria earthquakes destroyed most of |
| grand plazas, you'll suddenly find yourself staring at the | | | | the town and the government made the decision to |
| crumbling remains of once-mighty buildings, gracefully | | | | abandon the Panchoy Valley for the safer Valley of |
| collapsing between restaurants, hotels and businesses. | | | | the Shrine, where present day Guatemala City stands. |
| Words fail to describe the magic of the town. | | | | Antigua was left deserted with a few hangers-on, |
| Its difficult to believe that this sprawling cocktail of | | | | adopting the name of La Antigua thanks to its once |
| influences could have moved location like a travelling | | | | illustrious glory days as the capital city. |
| circus, but La Antigua Guatemala (or just Antigua for | | | | What's left |
| short) has found it difficult to settle in the same place. | | | | Antigua may not have ascended to the same hights |
| Moved by the locals | | | | as in its glory days (the population now is estimated at |
| The first of Antigua's big moves was for social | | | | 35,000) but visitors can still get a sense of the diverse |
| reasons. Originally founded as the capital in 1524 on the | | | | influences that the city has picked up over its years of |
| site of a Kakchikel-Maya city (now called Iximche), | | | | transience and change. Anyone in town during |
| severel Kakchikel uprisings forced the Spanish to | | | | Semana Santa can witness the incredible processions |
| consider a relocation. | | | | through streets covered with elaborate and beautiful |
| Moved by the gods | | | | carpets predominantly made from dyed sawdust, |
| The next location for the capital was deemed to be | | | | flowers and even fruits and vegetables. Anyone keen |
| Valley of Alotenango (Rio Guacalate). The city was | | | | to learn Spanish in an immersion environment will also |
| formally established on November 22, 1527. Things | | | | be spoilt for choice, with a wide variety of language |
| didn't last long there however, because on 11th | | | | schools spread around the city; students and their |
| September 1541 the site was destroyed by a | | | | teachers can often be seen wandering the streets or |
| devastating mudslide from the local volcano. | | | | sitting in cafes conversing over a cup of coffee. |
| The golden years | | | | Thousands of travellers that come to Antigua fall in |
| So far spited by the indigenous population and now | | | | love with its colonial charm and unique blend of old and |
| higher powers, the Spanish persevered. The Panchoy | | | | new. If you are planning a trip to Latin America, make |
| Valley was the next spot picked by the authorities and | | | | sure to include it on your itinerary and do it soon; you |
| on March 10th 1543 the current location of Antigua | | | | never know when it will get itchy feet and decide to |
| was established. For the next 200 years the city | | | | move again... |
| functioned as the centre of government for the | | | | |