Catedral de Santiago Apóstol y San José Catedral

Catedral de Santiago Apóstol y San José Catedral Review

Upon your first peek inside, you may wonder why the cathedral of Central America's preeminent colonial city seems so small. That's because what you see is one of only two remaining chapels in what was once the city's main house of worship. The lovely white cathedral (Santiago Apóstol) was completed in 1680 but destroyed in an earthquake less than 100 years later. Out back are the stark but magnificent ruins of the original cathedral—well worth a look for the nominal admission price. (Enter around the side on 5 Calle Oriente to visit the ruins.) Although restoration is underway, there are no plans to reopen the old cathedral as a house of worship. Today's smaller church (San José) is technically not a cathedral, but instead a parish church, part of the Archdiocese of Guatemala City. It holds an honorary catedral designation in deference to Antigua's onetime role as capital on Central America.