With the opening of the investment immigration market, Antigua and Barbuda has entered the vision of Chinese investors. Antigua Guatemala was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979 as a World Cultural Heritage site. The World Heritage Committee describes it as follows: The grid layout of the city of Antigua was inspired by the Italian Renaissance, and in less than three centuries, it has amassed a large number of solemn and magnificently styled architectural works. It is the birthplace of Baroque art and one of the centers of ancient Mayan culture. Immigrate to Antigua and enjoy a famous historical city.
In 1524, Guatemala became a Spanish colony. In 1527, Spain established a Captaincy General in Guatemala, governing the Central American region excluding Panama. On September 15, 1821, it broke free from Spanish colonial rule and declared independence. From 1822 to 1823, it became part of the Mexican Empire. In 1823, it joined the Federal Republic of Central America. After the federation dissolved in 1838, it became an independent country again in 1839. On March 21, 1847, Guatemala declared the establishment of a republic.
During the colonial era, the capital of the "Kingdom of Guatemala," ruled by the Spanish colonial government, was not located at the site of present-day Guatemala City, but in Antigua Guatemala, an hour's drive away. This city, founded in the early 16th century, is situated in a valley on a plateau with a pleasant climate and beautiful scenery, surrounded by the Agua Volcano at an altitude of over 3,000 meters and two other volcanoes.
Antigua Guatemala consists of an old city and a new city. The old city was founded in 1524 and served as the capital of the Captaincy General of Guatemala in the 17th century. Due to frequent earthquake damage, a new city was built in 1776, 40 kilometers northeast of the old city, which is the current capital of Guatemala, Guatemala City. Like Mexico City, Antigua Guatemala was once a political and military center of the Spanish colonial territories. At its peak, Antigua had a population of over 60,000, second only to Mexico City and Lima in the New World. In the second half of the 18th century, such a city, full of the combination of nature and humanity and the blend of colonial and indigenous cultures, was abandoned, and the capital of Guatemala was moved to Guatemala City. The reason was that Antigua was built in an earthquake-prone area, and a major earthquake in 1773 destroyed most of the city, forcing local officials to request permission from the King of Spain to relocate the capital. Consequently, Antigua forever lost its status as the political and cultural center of Guatemala and fell into silence amidst the ruins. After its reconstruction, Antigua Guatemala still reflects the urban landscape of the Spanish colonial era.
Antigua Guatemala was rebuilt following several consecutive earthquakes and possesses the appearance of a defensive fortress. In addition, the architectural landscape of this small colonial town of over 50 hectares is dominated by 18th-century Baroque-style churches and monasteries.
Baroque is an artistic style that was widely popular in the 17th century. There are various theories regarding the origin of its name. One theory suggests it comes from Portuguese or Spanish, meaning an irregular pearl; another suggests it comes from Italian, implying something strange, bizarre, or logically flawed. In general, the name had a derogatory connotation at the time, used by 18th-century classical art theorists to describe the artistic style of the previous century. The Baroque art style emphasizes the sense of space, three-dimensionality, and the comprehensive means of artistic form in a work. It absorbs elements and imagination from fields such as literature, theater, and music. It is an art of passion that breaks the tranquility and harmony of reason, possesses a rich romantic color, and strongly emphasizes movement and change. This design style is concentrated in Catholic churches. Baroque art is closely related to religion, and whether in ancient or contemporary times, Baroque art is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant pages in the history of European and human civilization.
Antigua is the birthplace of the famous Baroque art style, which later spread to Latin America, and it exported religious art works to Spain. Antigua provides unique evidence of an American colonial city in the Baroque era and is an excellent example of 18th-century architectural integrity. Most of the buildings in Antigua have a distinct Renaissance style, whether they are churches, hotels, or the city hall. The central square is called the "Plaza Mayor," surrounded by a grid-like road network, a layout typical of Spanish colonial cities at the time. Many beautifully carved and decorated Baroque buildings were built around the central square. On the north side of the square is the city hall, which features a two-story arcade supported by sturdy columns. The famous Franciscan monastery is a Baroque building, characterized by its spiral columns on both sides of the gate.
The Cathedral of Antigua Guatemala also stands beside the Plaza Mayor. During the colonization of Central America, the Catholic Church played a huge role. The early cathedral collapsed due to the earthquake in 1583. It was extremely luxurious when rebuilt. Subsequently, many churches, monasteries, and seminaries were built in the city. In 1678, the University of San Carlos, a higher education institution, was opened, making it a religious and cultural center in South America. Compared with the scale of the city at that time, there were relatively many religious buildings in Antigua Guatemala. Although most of them are now damaged, the prosperity of that time can still be seen from the remaining building porticos and other structures.