Antigua's original name was "Santiago
de los Caballeros de Guatemala", and it was the capital
of Central America (from Chiapas to Costa Rica) in colonial
times. When abandoned after a large earthquake in 1776, to
found the new Capital (today's Guatemala City,) it stayed
"frozen in time".
It has abundant churches, public buildings
and private houses, all built before that date; many in ruins,
many have been restored. Due to its beauty and state of conservation
UNESCO has declared it "Cultural Heritage of Mankind".
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