Antigua Guatemala: Spanish. Colonial. Authentic.
Pablo Neruda once described Central America as the “lithe waistline of the Americas.” Antigua, Guatemala, founded in 1543, is the former capital of colonial Central America. It is a 45-minute drive from the modern capital, Guatemala City. It boasts a Mediterranean climate, is well-positioned for travel to both North and South America, possesses an unparalleled authentic Spanish Colonial patina, and has inspired and attracted international sophisticates for more than four centuries.

History
When Antigua had running water and boulevards 10 yards wide, the pilgrims had not yet dreamed of setting foot on Plymouth Rock, and the Spanish Armada had yet to be defeated. When a particularly powerful earthquake shook Antigua (inspiring the move to the current capital's locale, Guatemala City), the US Declaration of Independence was being drafted, and the French Revolution was just beginning to rumble. Like all great, old cities Antigua has had its ups and downs. However, during and after the internal wars of the 1980s, a restoration resurgence began which led to the rustic elegance found in Antigua today. The Pan American Institute of History and Geography declared Antigua a Monument of the Americas in 1942. In 1979 UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site.

Location
Antigua is situated in a valley ringed with forested hills and dominated by three monumental volcanoes. Though tropical by latitude (14 degrees north) and attitude, its elevation gives it clear, bright blue days and crisp, cool nights (4,500 feet above sea level). There is little humidity and few bugs; it is a 2-hour drive to the Pacific Ocean and five hours to the Caribbean. It is a 2 hour flight to Guatemala City from Miami, 2.5 hours from Houston, and 5 hours from Los Angeles. 

Antigua Lifestyle
Terracotta tiled roofs and whitewashed conical chimneys adorn the low-slung skyline. Sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth century churches remain an elegant jumble of ruins – carved stone altars, cloistered gardens, and open-air naves beckon to be explored. Indigenous women in full regalia – bundles balancing in their heads, chatting in Mayan languages – stroll along cobblestone streets. Robust adobe walls are saturated in ochres, brick reds, and deep blues; wrought iron grillwork and hand-painted tiles decorate facades. The babble of centuries-old stone fountains can be heard in sun-splashed plazas.

Tradition and technology meet in Antigua: high-speed Internet, cable TV, and an extensive telecommunications network allow you to stay in touch while enjoying a relaxed lifestyle. An array of fine restaurants provide varied regional and international cuisine. Hand-woven textiles, fine jade, award-winning coffee, ceramics, antiques, and a wide range of arts and crafts fill the town. Bilingual bookstores, museums, movie theaters, spas, workout facilities, and medical and legal offices can be readily found. An international community has called Antigua home for generations; 12 nationalities are currently represented in its 32,000 inhabitants. This gem is surrounded by trails for hiking or biking; notable flower, nut, spice, fruit, and coffee farms are a short drive away.

Beyond Antigua
The region begs to be explored: helicopter safaris, sport fishing, archaeological expeditions, and ruggedly beautiful 4x4 journeys along 19th century coffee routes. An array of adventures are a drive or short flight from Antigua – from the best sail fishing in the Western Hemisphere, to "the most beautiful lake in the world:" Atitlan, (to quote Aldous Huxley). The region is home to 33 volcanoes, an enormous diversity of flora and fauna, ancient Maya cities that beckon from steamy jungles, traditional modern Maya communities, over 25 Mayan languages spoken by several million Maya people, and fascinating, vibrant markets.

For 471 years, Antigua has seduced notable writers, scholars, adventurers, naturalists, explorers and collectors. The  most famous of the Spanish explorers kept their main residences here; modern luminaries such as D.H. Lawrence, Gore Vidal, Aldous Huxley, and Antoine de Saint-Exupery also called Antigua home at various times.

In a world where authenticity has become scarce, Antigua is a compelling blend of New and Old World charm that soothes the senses and inspires the imagination. It is a world-class romantic destination that beckons one to live in the spirit of the great, classic lifestyles. 

Should these properties attract your interest, we would be delighted to host you during your visit at the notable colonial inn, Quinta Maconda. Should you succumb to their charms and purchase either or both properties, your stay at Quinta Maconda will be on-the-house.

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for more information about these fine properties,
contact Catherine Docter, catherine@qmproperties.com