The Church of La Candelaria

The Church of La Candelaria in northern Antigua Guatemala was built in the 17th century to serve the city’s peripheral neighborhoods. Dedicated to the Virgin of La Candelaria, it symbolizes light and purification, commemorating the presentation of Jesus in the temple. The Baroque-style church features a single nave, thick masonry walls, and a wooden roof to withstand earthquakes. Damaged in the 1773 quakes, it was partially abandoned but later restored. It remains a key site for Marian celebrations and Holy Week processions.