Antigua Guatemala Cathedral, Catholic cathedral in Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala Cathedral, now the Parish of San José, occupies a section of the ruined Primate Cathedral of Santiago de los Caballeros in Antigua Guatemala. Its surviving massive stone walls and facade, with baroque details, enclose a space where some chapels remain intact while other sections are roofless and damaged.

The first cathedral was begun in 1545 with rubble from the abandoned settlement in the Almolonga Valley. After the 1669 demolition, a new sanctuary was consecrated in November 1680 under master Joseph de Porres, with repairs by Diego de Porres after the 1717 earthquake. Elevated to metropolitan in 1743, it was badly damaged by the 1773 Santa Marta earthquakes; the parish of San José moved into the ruins in the 19th century.

The cathedral's name reflects the Spanish colonial heritage that shaped the city's religious architecture. The remaining functional spaces are still used for worship, showing how locals have kept this place alive in their everyday lives.

Visitors can explore the ruins daily, and it is best to wear sturdy shoes as the ground is uneven and can be slippery in places. A flashlight helps when looking at darker interior areas and the tunnels beneath.

Pedro de Alvarado's remains were moved into the cathedral at his daughter's request in 1568, then lifted out in the 1940s and kept in the peace court; after the 1976 earthquake they were stored in the Antigua Guatemala municipality until December 2007, when they returned to the same niche. The crypt and a set of tunnels of unknown purpose lie beneath the building.