Museum of Santiago de los Caballeros

Location in La Antigua Guatemala Click here and go to the interactive map.

It is located in front of Central Park in La Antigua Guatemala, in the City Hall, on the 4ª Calle Oriente, and its name comes from the Patron Saint James (Santiago in Spanish) whose avocation served to found the city of Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala.

The Spanish have been devoted to James, one of the twelve Disciples of Christ who then headed to Spain to preach, one of the first martyrs of Christianity and patron in battles.

In fact, in his honor were also founded other cities in America. In 1851 important modifications were done to the structure of the original building and a clock was placed in the tower, but the earthquake in 1976 made the demolition necessary.

Its origins as a museum go back to January 2, 1956, using the area that during Colonial times was used as a prison until 1955, which now takes a good area in the City Hall.

Due to general deterioration and to the quakes suffered in the Colonial City, the National Counsel for Protection of La Antigua Guatemala decided to reinforce the structure for the safety of museum visitors.

It has five exhibition rooms where there are ancient paintings and sculptures. In one of these you can observe a frame representing the old city; it is here where important changes that occurred during its peak are historically detailed.

It has sculpture, ceramic, heraldic (shields used to identify families, cities, or institutions) collections, as well as ironworks, furniture, and weapons.

Some of the elements that usually get the attention of visitors are the cannons, swords, and muskets deteriorated by time.

These are part of the weapon collection and let you perceive the solidity and weight of ancient war equipment. Since it was a former reclusion place, it has cells that amaze a lot of people for its marks on the walls.

In one of them, maybe the most visited one, the story of La Tatuana is told who incarcerated for presumed witchcraft and dishonest business escaped thanks to a little boat drawn with charcoal on the wall of her cell.

Schedule:

Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.