Iglesia y Convento de las Capuchinas, Antigua Guatemala facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Convent of the Capuchins
Iglesia y convento de las Capuchinas Convento e Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza  (Spanish)
Capuchinas monastery
General information
Status	Paid access
Architectural style	Spanish seismic baroque
Location	Antigua Guatemala,  Guatemala
Coordinates	14°33′35″N 90°43′53″W / 14.55972°N 90.73139°W / 14.55972; -90.73139
Construction started	1731
Completed	1736
Destroyed	1751 earthquake Santa Marta earthquake in 1773 1917 Guatemala earthquake 1976 Guatemala earthquake
Owner	Consejo Nacional Para la Protección de La Antigua Guatemala
Design and construction
Architect	Diego de Porres

The Convent of the Capuchins (also known as Iglesia y Convento de las Capuchinas) is a famous old convent and church in Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala. It's a great example of an 18th-century convent. The building was officially opened in 1736. However, like many buildings in the city, it was damaged by big earthquakes in 1751 and 1773. After these quakes, the convent was left empty.

A Look Back: The Convent's Story

The Capuchins convent was first called "Convent and Church of Our Lady of Zaragoza." King Felipe V approved its building in 1725. This was around the time the Capuchin Order arrived in Santiago de los Caballeros.

Building started in 1731 and finished in 1736. Diego de Porres was in charge of the construction. This was the last convent built in the city. It was also the first one that didn't ask for money from new nuns. This meant that even poor women could join and live a religious life.

Life Inside the Convent

Nuns at the convent followed very strict rules. Some rules included living simply, doing penance, and fasting often. They also had to live only on donations.

In Santiago de los Caballeros, there were two main types of nuns:

• Discalced nuns: These nuns lived a very strict community life. They shared rooms and ate together in silence. They could not eat meat and had to do all the chores themselves. They wore simple clothes and sandals.
• Urban nuns: These nuns had a more relaxed life. They lived in larger private cells, almost like small houses. They could have their own income and even servants. They were allowed to eat meat and drink chocolate, except when fasting. They wore finer clothes and sometimes jewelry.

A Royal Visit

In 1920, Prince Wilhelm of Sweden visited Antigua Guatemala. He wrote about the old Capuchin monastery. He found it very interesting, especially its many underground passages. These passages connected the monks' cells to the nuns' cells. He also noted a special part where the cells were built in a circle around a central common room.

Image Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia y convento de las Capuchinas (Antigua Guatemala) para niños

• 1773 Guatemala earthquake