Ever wondered why Antigua Guatemala carries such a noble name? The Plaza del Apóstol Santiago holds the key. It’s located a short distance from the Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint. Many visitors miss it if they don’t know where to look.
Welcome to the Plaza del Apóstol Santiago. This plaza covers 1.4 acres. In the heart of this plaza stands a monument to Saint James Apostle. But who was Saint James and why is he so important to Antigua?
To understand this, we must journey back in time. The previous name for Antigua Guatemala was La Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad de Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala. That translates to The Very Noble and Very Loyal City of Saint James of the Knights of Guatemala.
Saint James was a popular figure for Spanish conquistadors. They often used his name when renaming new lands in the Americas. There are over 60 cities with the name Santiago worldwide. Saint James is the patron saint of Spain.
The remains of Saint James the Greater are said to be buried in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia Spain. His burial town is considered the third most holy town of Catholicism after Jerusalem and Rome.
July 25th is an important day here. La Antigua Guatemala celebrates Saint James Apostle Day. The celebration includes all sorts of festivities.
Let’s explore a bit of trivia about the name James. The name James in English comes from Iacobus Jacob in Latin. In eastern Spain, Jacobus became Jacome or Jaime. In Catalunya, it became Jaume. In western Iberia it became Sant’Iago which developed into Tiago in Portugal and Galicia. Tiago developed into Diego which is also the Spanish name of Saint Didacus of Alcalá.
The emblem of James was the scallop shell. Pilgrims to his shrine wore this symbol on their hats or clothes. The French word for a scallop is coquille St. Jacques which means cockle or mollusk of St James. The German word for a scallop is Jakobsmuschel which means mussel or clam of St James. The Dutch word is Jacobsschelp meaning shell of St James.
Take a moment to appreciate the Plaza del Apóstol Santiago. Remember its connection to the city’s identity. Consider how a saint’s name echoes through centuries of history and culture in Antigua.