THE HISTORY OF THE PalaceRoyal An imposing building Antigua Guatemala Royal The Royal Palace was witness to im- and wealth through the production portant events during the more than of currency in the Colonial period. two hundred years that it functioned as the seat to the Audiencia de Gua- Its preeminent location in the city Palace temala, and to the Captaincy Gen- and architectural characteristics make A witness to important events eral of the Kingdom of Guatemala. the Royal Palace a unique expression It was headquarters for the political, of a relevant period in the history of military, and economic administra- Guatemala and Central America, tion for the Spanish Crown in the terri- and a jewel of the Nation’s Cultural oday it is one of the most emblematic buildings in tories of current Chiapas and Central Heritage. America. Antigua Guatemala. The monumentality and the Its interior spaces today allow us to complexity of its architecture are a reflection of the Traversing through its spaces, one comprehend the historical evolution T can discover how the government func- since the arrival of the Spanish Con- power, the relevance, and the variety of functions that took place tioned, the administration of justice, quistadors. within its walls, when it was seat of the Colonial Government. and the control of the population The capital of the Guatemala Panchoy. Two years after, the first Province was originally established “cabildo” (council) of the city was The Very Noble and Very Loyal in the Kaqchikel city of Iximche’, in held, and the relocation was officially 1524. Due to constant indigenous consummated. City of Santiago of the Knights uprisings, on November 22nd, 1527 it was relocated in the Valley of Located at an altitude of 1500 meters, of the Kingdom of Guatemala Bulbuxyá or Almolonga, a name that in an area of prevalent seismic activity, means “place where water springs”. it was largely destroyed by the Santa ntigua Guatemala, as we know it today, Marta Earthquake on July, 1773. was once the city of “Santiago de los In 1541 the capital was destroyed Caballeros de Guatemala”. It was the by a strong weather front and a In August of that same year, at the A mudslide that descended from Agua request of the President, Governor setting for an important part of the country’s history. Volcano, causing the death to the and Captain General, Martín de Governess Doña Beatriz de la Cueva, Mayorga, the relocation of the city In colonial times, for 232 years, Antigua was the widow of the “adelantado” (a civil and was agreed upon, at first temporarily seat of power to the government of the Kingdom and military governor of Spanish colonies) and then permanently to the Valley of Captaincy General of Guatemala. Because of this, and “conquistador” Don Pedro de the Ermita or the Virgin, where the and the preservation of colonial architecture, this city Alvarado, among many others. capital of Guatemala remains until today – in 1776 this new city was was declared in 1979 a World Cultural Heritage Site Later in 1541 the capital was moved named “La Nueva Guatemala de la by UNESCO. for the third time to the Valley of Asunción”– . N Urban Planning W E S and Public Buildings Antigua Guatemala Constructed in a grid plan where streets ments, including public buildings, vari- run at right angles to each other and ous churches, convents and residences, form rectangular blocks, the layout were constructed. was inspired in the principles of the Italian Renaissance. This style of ur- On July 1532 Queen ban planning was largely utilized since Doña Juana I of Spain the outset of the colonization of the awarded the city of Americas, in which a Plaza was built Santiago its Coat in the center along with government of Arms. Later, in and religious buildings. March of 1566 King Felipe II conferred Shortly after its settlement, the city the city the title of extended beyond the originally planned Very Noble and Very Loyal City of layout. In less than three centuries Santiago of the Knights of the King- a large number of imposing monu- dom of Guatemala. Royal Palace Main Buildings 1. Main Square 12. El Carmen 23. Espíritu Santo 34. Candelaria 2. Royal Palace 13. Capuchinas 24. Santa Lucía 35. N.S. Dolores del Cerro 3. Cathedral 14. Santa Teresa 25. San José el Viejo 36. Escuela de Cristo 4. Palacio Arzobispal 15. Santa Catalina 26. San Francisco 37. Guadalupe 5. Ayuntamiento 16. La Merced 27. Santa Clara 38. Belén 6. Compañía de Jesús 17. San Sebastián 28. Cruz del Milagro 39. La Santa Cruz 7. San Agustín 18. Santiago 29. La Concepción 40. Los Remedios 8. San Pedro 19. Santísima Trinidad 30. Santo Domingo 41. Santa Ana 9. Colegio Tridentino 20. La Recolección 31. Beatas Indias 42. El Calvario Photo: Diego Lezama, courtesy of: Fundación G&T Fundación courtesy of: Lezama, Diego Photo: 10. San Carlos University 21. Real Aduana 32. Santa Rosa 43. Santa Isabel 11. San Juan de Dios 22. San Lázaro 33. N.S. Dolores del Llano 1751 The magnitude of the 1777 Symbology 1543 damages caused by the Sept. 27th Sept. 13th. earthquake to the Royal The Captain General Discovery of America The first Hearing Palace caused the closing Martín de Mayorga, after called Audiencia of the jail, the Royal a visit to the structure of de los Confines, Agreement Chamber (Sala the Royal Palace ordered History of the Real was introduced del Real Acuerdo) and the the removal of everything Palacio building during by Royal Decree 1560 Chancellery that could be used in the the Colonial Period His Majesty the King stated 1755 new city, including pipes, that the president of the The President of the fountains, timber, coat of June 13th Royal Audience would also Royal Audience Alonso arms, etc. Main events of the The “pregon” be the general governor of de Arcos y Moreno Colonial Period in takes place, the province 1674 requested a complete Guatemala giving the order The building was renovation of the building to name the The First Palace in the two stories high city “The City of on its north wing After the relocation of Santiago” XVI century 1600 - 1651- 1764 In this century the and had an ample This remodeling left the city small houses architecture of the building 1603 1700 portal, also two the new portal as is were built in front, and The Palace in the Major stories high, but seen today the building did not have March 10th was very modest, made with unstable construction construction only in the front a specific use. In1850 The first “cabildo” XVII materials, which coupled work was facade of the the facade was restored History of the or council was held century The new facade in the with the constant seismic done to the Grand Palace and between 1885- in the new city The old jail was activity in the region, and it Royal Palace XVIII century 1892 various sections refurbished as upgrading the Royal was constantly damaged In this century three major were reconstructed housing facilities for construction earthquakes caused an 1775 two members of the materials Dec. 29th unprecedented scale of Palace Royal Audience and remodeling 1679 The ¨Ayuntamiento¨of the ¨Very Noble and destruction in the city of various spaces Very Loyal City of Santiago of the Kingdom During colonial times the Royal March 18th Santiago, and the Royal Palace 1549 of Guatemala¨, after 232 years and 9 months Bishop Francisco Inauguration of the building had to undergo major Palace was headquarters to the of having remained in the Valley of Panchoy, Marroquín handed over room for the Royal Seal renovations Government of the Kingdom of his residence for the in the Grand Palace moves to the Valley of the ¨Ermita¨ for its Guatemala, fulfilling the purpose of Royal Audience new establishment. It was the last government institution to abandon Santiago its construction 1490 1500 1510 1520 1530 1540 1550 1560 1570 1580 1590 1600 1610 1620 1630 1640 1650 1660 1670 1680 1690 1700 1710 1720 1730 1740 1750 1760 1770 1780 1790 1800 1810 1820 1660 1717 Sept. 29th 1773 1799 1566 The first July 29th March printing San Miguel 1541 March 10th 1751 The Santa Marta The city is named 1498 July 15th King Felipe II press Earthquake causes March 4th Columbus earthquake caused Villa of La Antigua Don Pedro de Alvarado conferred the city was unprecedented Strong earthquakes Third Voyage: 1676 severe damage but Guatemala passed away the title of the “Very Introduced destruction in the affected the City discovered the 1524 Creation of the Saint even though not totally 1492 Noble and Very Loyal Charles University City of Santiago and of Santiago caus- Island of Trinidad, Pedro de Alvarado destroyed, it was the Cristopher City of Santiago its buildings ing grave damage and explored began conquering Sept. 11th reason for the definite Columbus with A mud slide descended of the Kingdom of to the buildings the Gulf of Paria Guatemala abandonment of the 1821 three ships, from Agua Volcano Guatemala” 1719 in the city, espe- City of Santiago, departed from (Venezuela), and cially to the Royal Sept. 15th the Darien coast July 27th destroying the city in Feb. 3rd following the Independence Spain, trying to Almolonga, and killing The Royal Palace (Panama) Establishment insistence of Captain of Guatemala find a western Doña Beatriz De La Audience of the first city General, Martín de route to Asia, Cueva, among many informs His in Guatemala in Mayorga but discovered others Majesty the Iximche’, with a the Antilles King that the camp site instead Sept.