Iglesia de la Merced

The canary-yellow splendor of Iglesia de La Merced sparkles against the northern reaches of Antigua, marking the end of the Calle del Arco. Overlooking a large, pleasant plaza usually overrun by vendors of street food, fruits, and religious articles for church-goers, the stunning facade of La Merced is carved with elaborate Baroque-style reliefs. These include alcoves holding statues of important religious figures, all of which are painted a startling white today to stand out against the bright yellow walls. Construction began on the church in 1548, and it was often refurbished until the 1717 earthquake seriously damaged the structure. The church was rebuilt in the mid 18th Century (1767) and again between 1850 and 1855, to survive future earthquakes. The adjacent monastery, on the other hand, is a derelict mass of ruins owing to the onslaught of the many earthquakes, but still holds an immense fountain called Fuente de Pescados whose diameter measures over 25 meters (80 feet).