Archway View of the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales

Palacio de los Capitanes Generales in Antigua Guatemala's Parque Central, viewed through a colonial archway with a central fountain in the courtyard.
Palacio de los Capitanes Generales in Antigua Guatemala's Parque Central, viewed through a colonial archway with a central fountain in the courtyard.

The Palacio de los Capitanes Generales stands on the south side of Antigua Guatemala's Parque Central, the plaza that anchored the colonial capital. Spanish authorities built a residence for the captains general on this site starting in 1558, rebuilding it repeatedly after earthquake damage before completing the current structure in 1764. From this building, Spanish governors administered the Captaincy General of Guatemala, a jurisdiction that once extended from Chiapas to Costa Rica. Antigua Guatemala earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979, a designation tied in part to the survival of colonial landmarks such as this one. The building now houses Guatemala's Ministry of Culture and Sports along with a museum open to the public.

Taken February 2020

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Antigua
Historic center of Antigua Guatemala: Santa Catalina Arch, markets, ruins and surrounding volcanoes
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