La Merced Cathedral

Address: 1a Calle Poniente and 6a Av. Norte
Hours: Daily, 9am - 6pm
Admission: Free admission to church. Less than $1 to visit ruins of monastery

ATTRACTION Keywords:
Holy Place, Religious Experience, Church / Cathedral, Ruin - Ancient

10:31 AM Saturday, May 25
Scattered clouds. Mild.
7 day forecast

This gorgeous Baroque-style church features a soft, buttery yellow exterior complimented by white trim. Originally a male monastery, La Merced was originally built in 1548. Later, in 1749, Juan de Dios began work on building today's church, finishing the project in 1767.

The exterior of the intricately designed church features sculptures and paintings, such as the well-known Jesus Nazareno. Inside, ruins of the monastery can be found, including the Fuente de Pescados, or Fountain of the Fish. During Holy Week, the church is the start of the procession.

Latest Reviews

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All La Merced Cathedral Reviews

Review by Marie Louise N, April 2013
Doing what: Iximché Ruins and Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City

It was a wonderful day. The guide was so sweet :)

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Review by devora m, March 2013
Doing what: 8-Day Best of Guatemala Tour: Antigua, Pacaya Volcano, Lake Atitlan and Tikal Ruins

It was excellent

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Review by Nancy W, USA, March 2013
Doing what: Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City

Beautiful city, a must see. Coffee plantation is also very interesting and informative.

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Practical Info

The church is located just north of Plaza Mayor. Well worth a look are the ruins of the monastery, which are located on the side of the church and feature a gorgeous pond and courtyard. Head up to the top of the convent for views of the area.

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