May 18, 2006
Casa Florencia: cute small place
We absolutely loved this a small (14 rooms) inn in a restored colonial building. Rooms are small but impeccable, with colonial furnishings. Safe box (filmsy lock) and cable TV are provided in room. Bathrooms are spanking clea and new with good hot water.
Service was excellent, very friendly! They made us feel very welcome and at home, even from the first contact we had through the internet.
There's no breakfast included but complementary coffee is available in the small lobby.
The only small, TINY, negative point (compared to other similar hotels we saw anyway) is the location, a bit further away from the Plaza central. Still, it's only about a 10 minute walk so no big problem.
I would very much recommend this place, and the price ($42,- per night a double) was very good.
Try to get a room on the second floor with a great view of volcan Agua (on a clear day).
Service was excellent, very friendly! They made us feel very welcome and at home, even from the first contact we had through the internet.
There's no breakfast included but complementary coffee is available in the small lobby.
The only small, TINY, negative point (compared to other similar hotels we saw anyway) is the location, a bit further away from the Plaza central. Still, it's only about a 10 minute walk so no big problem.
I would very much recommend this place, and the price ($42,- per night a double) was very good.
Try to get a room on the second floor with a great view of volcan Agua (on a clear day).
Casa Florencia
View of Volcan Agua from our room
Create a free TravBuddy account or login to leave comments, meet travelers, and share experiences with the TravBuddy travel community.
May 18, 2006
A tour of the Ruins of Antigua Guatemala
Antigua is simply filled with impressive ruins of old religius buildings. Here are a couple of the most impressive ones:
Santa Clara
Athough small, the ruins of the Iglesia y Convento de Santa Clara are one of my favorites. The grounds are well-kept, filled with lovely flowers and little lawns that make for great relaxing. The second level has nice views over Antigua. This church and convent (this time housing nuns, mostly from rich families) was another victim of that infamous earthquake of 1773, laying it in ruins.
Right in front of the ruins of Santa Clara is a public washing (laundry) area and a tiny park.
La Recoleccion
The ruins of La Recoleccion (built between 1701 and 1708) are one of the best reminders of the incredible power of earthquakes.
This complex (church and convent) was one of the most beautiful of Antigua in its days. The big earthquake of 1773, however, turned the buildings into a huge ruin. To be sure, even more damage was done later by people carting off stones etc. for building material elsewhere. And they even tried building a swimming pool in the ruins!
La Merced
The complex of La Merced consists of two parts: the church itself, which has a richly decorated facade, with vines and grapes everywhere but is very simple inside, and the convent (small entrance fee), which was destroyed by the big earthquake of 1773 and is only partially restored. Inside the convent is a huge fountain, the largest in Central America, in which the friars used to raise fish.
La Catedral de Santiago
On the east side of the Parque Central you’ll see the façade of the cathedral. Behind this façade hides what was once a huge, beautifully decorated cathedral, the largest of the Spanish colonies. Construction was started in 1543 but due to earthquakes, still not completed 200 years later! In 1773 disaster struck once again in the form of a huge earthquake, destroying the building. At last, a small part of the building was rebuilt and is now in use as the present cathedral.
The cathedral is beautifully lit up at night.
Santa Clara
Athough small, the ruins of the Iglesia y Convento de Santa Clara are one of my favorites. The grounds are well-kept, filled with lovely flowers and little lawns that make for great relaxing. The second level has nice views over Antigua. This church and convent (this time housing nuns, mostly from rich families) was another victim of that infamous earthquake of 1773, laying it in ruins.
Right in front of the ruins of Santa Clara is a public washing (laundry) area and a tiny park.
La Recoleccion
The ruins of La Recoleccion (built between 1701 and 1708) are one of the best reminders of the incredible power of earthquakes.
This complex (church and convent) was one of the most beautiful of Antigua in its days. The big earthquake of 1773, however, turned the buildings into a huge ruin. To be sure, even more damage was done later by people carting off stones etc. for building material elsewhere. And they even tried building a swimming pool in the ruins!
La Merced
The complex of La Merced consists of two parts: the church itself, which has a richly decorated facade, with vines and grapes everywhere but is very simple inside, and the convent (small entrance fee), which was destroyed by the big earthquake of 1773 and is only partially restored. Inside the convent is a huge fountain, the largest in Central America, in which the friars used to raise fish.
La Catedral de Santiago
On the east side of the Parque Central you’ll see the façade of the cathedral. Behind this façade hides what was once a huge, beautifully decorated cathedral, the largest of the Spanish colonies. Construction was started in 1543 but due to earthquakes, still not completed 200 years later! In 1773 disaster struck once again in the form of a huge earthquake, destroying the building. At last, a small part of the building was rebuilt and is now in use as the present cathedral.
The cathedral is beautifully lit up at night.
The facade of the Catedral de Sa…
Inside La Merced
The facade of La Merced
Entering La Recoleccion
Inside Santa Clara
May 18, 2006
Casa Popenoe
To get an idea of how (rich) people lived in colonial times, visit the Casa Popenoe. The house was built in 1636 by Don Luis de las Infantas Mendoza Y Venegas (another one of those impressive Spanish names), a high placed judicial official. It was ruined by (again) that earthquake of 1773 and abandoned until the ruins were bought in 1929 by an American doctor and his wife. Extensive restorations were made and care was taken to furnish the house in authentic antiques. The courtyard garden is beautiful and don’t forget to check out the dovecote on the roof and the ‘jacuzzi’ in the backyard (filled with diverted mountain water). From the roof you have beautiful views over the city.
The house can be visited daily (except sundays) from 2 -4 pm (small entrance fee).
The house can be visited daily (except sundays) from 2 -4 pm (small entrance fee).
Garden, Casa Popenoe
Inside
on the roof
