Antigua is Central America’s European city. The Spanish made it their capital during their occupation, despite the fact that its surrounded by volcanoes and is prone to being leveled by earthquakes. Whole blocks of the city are the rubble of a collapsed church or fort and are preserved as attractions. Antigua is riddled with shops, proper cafes and grand churches. The old fortress like houses are useful for the modern security situation. Spanish houses present a high blank wall to the street– these days topped with cyclone fencing– and a door large enough for a man to ride a horse through leads to the concealed opulence of a gardened courtyard surrounded by the rooms of the house.

Photos of Antigua.