subject: Antigua, Guatemala - A Moving City? [print this page] Antigua has an interesting history, and is among the few cities in the world that have been replaced as the capital. Antigua used to be the capital of Guatemala until 1773. It became necessary to transfer the capital after the devastation of the Santa Marta earthquake. In spite of this, Antigua still retains its architecture from the colonial times. You will also have the opportunity to walk in the streets made of cobbled stones, a testimony of its Spanish colonial history.
Antigua has a population of about 30,000 people. One of the things that give it an interesting history is the fact that it seems to have some fairy tale history. Have you ever heard of a moving city? Well, Antigua is one such place, yet it is not a fairy tale. How on earth could this be possible?
The city has actually been moved more than once in its history. The original relocation was due to social factors. The city was initially established at a place that is now known as Iximche in 1524 as the capital. However, there were a number of Kakchikel uprisings, hence the Spanish saw fit to relocate the city to another place.
The city was moved to the Valley of Alotenango, where it was established officially on November 22, 1527. Things seemed to work out well for some time. However, on September 11, 941, tragedy struck. A local volcano erupted resulted in a devastating mudslide that destroyed the city. The city had to be moved once more.
The Spanish authorities did not give up, and decided to move Antigua to the Panchoy Valley. They established the city in this new location on March 10, 1543. The capital remained here for the following 200 years, where it served as the headquarters of the Spanish colony. The city thrived until its population reached about 60,000 people. Then another tragedy struck.
On September 29, 1717, a massive earthquake literally shook the city. The earthquake, which measured 7.4 on the Richter scale, destroyed 3,000 buildings. The government started thinking of shifting its base. However, before it could do this, another earthquake forced it to make a decision. In 1773, the Santa Maria earthquakes destroyed nearly the entire city.
It was time to make another move. However, this time around, it was the capital that was moved, not the city of Antigua. The government moved its center of operations to the Valley of the Shrine, which is where you will find Guatemala city today.
Antigua rose from the ashes yet again, although it was no longer the capital of Guatemala. The changes it experienced over the centuries have left the city with a rich cultural diversity. This is one of the most popular destinations for learning the Spanish language. The city has many language schools, and it is not uncommon to see students and their teachers in a variety of places, including cafes.
Antigua Guatemala brings together both the old and the new in a seamless blend. Enjoy the city that moves - before it does it again!
