We left beautiful Panajachel to go to another gem of Guatemala: Antigua. On our way we stopped by Iximche, which is an archeological site. Iximche was a pre-columbine city founded in 1478, only a few years before Spaniards came to the continent America. The city was founded by the Kaqchikeles to host the people of the highest hierarchy of this ethnic group. Due to conflicts with Spaniards, the city was abandoned on 1524. In our visit, we could see the foundations of the main houses, the game area, and the adoration areas. Mayans have a good relationship with the nature, so their temples are oriented according to the direction of the sun and the moon. The last section of the city is an adoration area that is currently used by Mayans to have their ceremonies. We had the amazing opportunity to see from the distance two small groups accompanied by a spiritual guide having a ceremony.
After that, we arrived to Antigua, which was the capital of Guatemala from 1541 to 1776. The whole city has cobblestone streets. The city preserves the architecture of colonial times. We got the chance to enter to the city hall, the Spanish cooperation building, parks and churches. Being in all of them is like a travel back in time to the colonial era. Also, we visited Hotel Santo Domingo which used to be a Dominican convent. They have a permanent exposition of beautiful paintings and sculptures that brought us back to the middle of the XX century.
These two magnificent cities, Iximche and Antigua, are a great example of the cultural and historical value of Guatemala for the world.