El Cruz

What secrets does a hill hold? High above us, here in Antigua, Guatemala, stands El Cerro de la Cruz, or Hill of the Cross. El Cerro de la Cruz is more than just a viewpoint. It is a silent sentinel, a place where history and faith intertwine. Its story goes back centuries, to a time when it was known as Cerro de la Candelaria. Back then, only a simple cross marked this hilltop. In 1930, a new cross was erected, a symbol of evangelization and protection for the city. This wooden cross, likely from a nearby parish, gave the hill its current name – El Cerro de la Cruz. Every year on Ascension Thursday, people gather on El Cerro de la Cruz, their voices echoing the centuries-old tradition. The cross we see today, however, is not the original. In the 1960s, a 10-meter-tall stone cross replaced it, standing tall upon a concrete base. This base symbolizes an orb, a testament to the belief that the cross safeguards the city. From this vantage point, you can see the city of Antigua laid out before you, nestled in the valley of Panchoy. Look beyond the city, and you’ll see the majestic volcanoes – Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango. They stand as silent witnesses to the ebb and flow of time, much like El Cerro de la Cruz itself.