A house with history in Antigua Guatemala
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History of Casa Antigua & Antigua Guatemala
Welcome to our hotel, a special place inside a majestic city. We hope that during your stay here, you will discover the enchantment of both. To accomplish that, the following paragraphs will help you.
Antigua is listed by Unesco in their world heritage list, a cultural monument of America. During many years it was the capital of the
Reino de Goathemala, founded in 1543 after the previous capital (now Ciudad Vieja) was destroyed by a flash flood coming from a nearby volcano Volcan de Agua.
Antigua is as old as Mexico & Lima or Santo Domingo, the first big cities of this continent. The Spaniards ruled all Central America form Antigua. An earthquake in 1773 almost destroyed it. As a consequence, the government ordered to move to what is now Guatemala City. A group of people decided not to obey the order & to remain in Antigua, among them the owners of this house.
Many personalities & people have lived here & left their footprint. Among them are Hermano Pedro, canonized in 2003 by Pope Jean Paul II. While walking on the streets, he used to repeat:
Remember, brothers, that only one soul we have & if we lose it, we will never recover it.Also, Bishop Francisco Marroquin, as well as Bartolome de las Casas, founder of the human rights movement in the world. University of San Carlos, the fourth to be established in America, was founded here. Now this city is visited by artist, politicians, history & culture lovers (Mel Gibson, Bill Clinton).
Antigua has been described in many ways by different writers. Rafael Landivar, a Jesuitic priest expelled by the government, remembers in Bologna, Italy,
your dowries, your fountains, your plazas, your temples. He remembered how in spite of the streets being full of people, prevails akind silence. He applauded the fact of been alive after the 1773 earthquake. He remembers itsaligned streets, open to the surround of the city, as well as big temples with columns of carved rock.During the 20 century the most famous Antigua writer was Luis Cardoza. For him, Antigua was a
blouse smelly of the sky, a slice of time that made you fill out of this planet. For him Antigua was a monumental phantom, a place in whichthe rumor of the night touches your bones.In Antigua, you will see everywhere roses & bougainvilleas. This elevates on & over the walls. During holly week, this city if full of processions & religious activities. All the church bells are ringing.
During the 21 century, Antigua is both the same & a new city, full of services: hotels, restaurants, laundry services, internet cafes, travel agencies, adventure tourism, newspapers, ice cream shops, markets, pre-paid cell phone stores & many schools to learn Spanish. This and much more is Antigua at this moment.
About our hotel
You are in a house that has so much history inside it. Its style is colonial but, it was built in different times in Guatemala's history as an independent republic. Many of the pieces you will find inside the rooms, come from the 18th & 19th century. Such as a very large bed that was hand carved for King Mosquitia of Nicaragua, one of the original chandeliers of the Cathedral of Antigua, & a bed that was once in a house of "Hermano Pedro". In this house, 5 generations of the Pellecer family have lived. They were emigrating between Guatemala & Nicaragua, that's why from both countries you will see different testimonies & find artifacts from both.
This house is located in an area in which the Spanish inquisition operated after the conquest. Some construction workers said, if you built something during this time, it is none to rare to find bones & other humans pieces from darker times.
Within a few blocks of the hotel, you find important institutions: The Jesuitism convent (now managed as an artistic & convention center by the Spanish cooperation), the Cathedral, the Central Park with its unique fountain, Iglesia de la Merced, Capuchinas convent, El Palacio de los Capitanes, The Ayuntamiento & many hotels, restaurants & shops. Four blocks to the west is the craft market & bus terminal. Six blocks to the south east is a recommended church to visit: Iglesia de San Francisco, where you will see many faith testimonies to Hermano Pedro. This is a city to be walked. In this way, you will discover the hidden treasures of our beautiful city.
Inside the hotel you will see some one of a kind antiques of great value: Larger than king size bed that was made for the King of Mosquitia in Nicaragua. It was originally made in Jamaica, then transported to Central America. In another room you will see a bed owned by Doña Elvira, previously a governor. Hermano Pedro has also sleep in this same bed. In another room there is a marvelous chandelier that once hung in Antigua's Cathedral. In the corridors you will see paintings by Toribio Jerez from 1850. Also, you will see many pieces in the house that came from France to Granada Nicaragua & from there to this house.
Another detail present in some rooms is the casullas from 19 century. Even if things are partially destroyed, it is possible to appreciate its artistic achievement dedicated to catholic movements. As soon as you enter, you will see a drawing resembling the method of working during old times. In this house a jewelry factory operated two centuries ago. In the corridors & inside some rooms you will see tables, desks, drawers, chairs, from 19 & 20 centuries used to display their jewelry. Every piece is original & different to each other.
More recently in this house operated the first radio station outside of Guatemala City, Radio Colonial. In 1945, in this house was founded the political party that brought into power, Juan José Arevalo, probably one of the best president this country has had.
Still, more recently, in August 2006, many scenes of the film
Looking for Palladin, was filmed in this house. A film in which famous actors participated: Ben Gazara, Thalia Share, Angelica Aragon, Pedro Armendariz Jr. David Rostow & many others. So, we do not exaggerate when we say, it is a movie hotel.This hotel is part of a chain of small hotels, all in Antigua: Hotel Casa Rustica, Posada Don Valentino, Hotel Casa del Parque, Posada Doña Luisa & Hostal Antigua. All of them share a philosophy of respect for culture & the environment, while trying to please our guest..
- Hotel Casa Antigua rated "excellent" by 6 travelers
