The Cathedral in Antigua, Guatemala, was the colonial epicenter of Christianity in Central America until it was nearly destroyed in an earthquake in 1773. The Archbishop's Palace and Cathedral once consumed an entire city block in the eastern portion of the city, though today only a portion of its former glory has been restored to serve as a functional place of worship for Antigua's citizens and visitors. Artfully carved statues of saints and apostles adorn the edifice of the all white building, casting a warm glow when the edifice is lit in the evening.
The main attraction to Guatemala is without question the Tikal Ruins. This was the largest city of the Mayan civilization with a population over 10,000 until the city was mysteriously abandoned some time in the 9th century. The Tikal Ruins is home to more than 10,000 sculptures over its 109-square mile radius, which is now a home to populations of howler monkeys and tropical birds. Archeologists have worked for centuries to uncover the secrets these ruins hold and answer the questions as to why an entire population of people suddenly abandoned their homes and walked into the jungle. So far, only a fraction of the total area has been restored.
The Arch of Santa Catalina is one of the most pictured monuments in colonial Antigua. The Arch was once part of the Santa Catalina monastery and school until they were both damaged in the same earthquakes that nearly leveled the Cathedral in 1773. Guatemala moved its capital city from Antigua to Guatemala City, abandoning the monument until the city took action to maintain it. Its yellow exterior and 18th century Central American Federation clock juts out from the stone landscape of other buildings on 5th Avenue North making the Arch the once and future focal point of the neighborhood.