The city of Santiago de los Caballeros, later - Guatemala, and now La Antigua (Guatemala) – was founded in March of 1543 in the valley Panchoy at the footspets of the volcano Agua. Spanish King Phillip II entitled it as "Very Benevolent and Very Faithful” in 1556. From then on, the city has become the cultural and educational centre for the whole America especially during the so-called Golden Age from 1720 to 1773.
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Then the earthquake burst and the major part of the old city of Guatemala was turned into ruins. Citizens left the place for a long time. Instead of the ruined capital a new capital of Guatemala was built and the only part of the antique capital is left in the name La Antigua.
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