{"id":2021,"date":"2016-01-11T20:30:02","date_gmt":"2016-01-11T20:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/worldoftravelling.com\/blog\/?p=2021"},"modified":"2016-02-01T00:50:11","modified_gmt":"2016-02-01T00:50:11","slug":"antigua","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldoftravelling.com\/blog\/?p=2021","title":{"rendered":"Beautiful Antigua."},"content":{"rendered":"

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“Guatemala\u2019s tourism showpiece, Antigua, remains far more than a tourist attraction. A place of rare beauty, major historical significance and vibrant culture, it\u2019s the country\u2019s one must-visit destination.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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A former capital (the seat of government was relocated to Guatemala City following several major earthquakes during the colonial period) Antigua boasts an astonishing catalogue of colonial relics in a magnificent setting. Its streetscapes of pastel facades under terracotta roofs unfold amid three volcanoes: Agua (3766m), Fuego (3763m) and Acatenango (3976m). Designated a Unesco World Heritage Site and with an ideal climate, it\u2019s a great place for walking (though it gets quite chilly after sunset). While many old ecclesiastical and civic structures are beautifully renovated, others retain a tumbledown charm, with fragments strewn about the place and sprays of bougainvillea sprouting from the crumbling ruins.<\/p>\n

Thanks to the dozens of Spanish language schools that operate here, Antigua has become a global hot spot; boasting fine dining, plenty of colonial-chic accommodations and an extremely cosmopolitan nightlife. But the foreign presence by no means dominates the atmosphere. Antigua remains a vibrant Guatemalan town, its churches, plazas and markets throbbing with activity.<\/p>\n

I spent New Year in Antigua and managed to bag an excellent B&B called Chez Daniel. Owned by an American guy and his Guatemalan wife, it’s a top notch place with great views to boot.<\/p>\n

Next stage: The Chez Daniel Loop.<\/p>\n

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“Guatemala\u2019s tourism showpiece, Antigua, remains far more than a tourist attraction. A place of rare beauty, major historical significance and vibrant culture, it\u2019s the country\u2019s one must-visit destination.” A former capital (the seat of government was relocated to Guatemala City … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[73],"class_list":["post-2021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-aside","hentry","category-guatemala","tag-antigua","post_format-post-format-aside"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t