Capturing the Palacio Real de los Capitanes

The long dispute over the control of the Palacio Real de los Capitanes Generales of Santiago de Guatemala by the different ministries and groups is over. It appears that the winners are the Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes and INGUAT, Guatemala’s board of tourism. This gorgeous building is now housing the Museo de Santiago and Museo de Armas thus far. If you remember the previous reports I shared with you here, at one point a business group and INGUAT were planning to turn this historic building into a shopping mall with a food court. Of course, the Antigüeños reveled and repulsed that idea. Then Ministerio of Gobernación wanted the building back to house the police headquarters, but once again were sent away by the organized civil society of Antigua Guatemala who want this building to be the home for museums and cultural centers.

I promise I will do a series on the Palacio Real de los Capitanes to show what’s inside as well as the look of the the restored building. Of course, I recommend you pay a visit next time you visit La Antigua Guatemala.

Background information:

After two and half years and Q16 millions/$2 millions spent in renovations Real Palacio de Los Capitanes has finally opened again. The new façade is painted with yellow and white paint. According to an article in Prensa Libre, CNPAG, the entity in charge of restoring and protecting La Antigua Guatemala, also removed 15 tons of extra weight. There is still a second restoration phase quoted at Q14 million more to be done.

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