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Iglesia de La Merced

The Church and convent of La Merced is a Catholic temple located in the city of Antigua Guatemala in Guatemala. The architect Juan de Dios Estrada was in charge of its construction from 1749. The temple was inaugurated in 1767 and is in ultra baroque Guatemalan style with two bell towers.

The “Fountain of los Pescados”, dates from the 18th century; At twenty-seven meters in diameter, it is one of the largest colonial fountains in Latin America. The fountain is shaped like a water lily, a very common flower in the Guatemalan lowlands, especially in lakes and lagoons. In the symbolism of the ancient Mayan peoples, it is associated with creation: a god created a water lily from which the rest of the gods came.

Parque La Merced.
The Merced Church park is one of the most famous destinations to spend the afternoon and rest in the middle of nature.

  • In this place you will find typical food sales, local handicrafts and impressive sunsets.

Main facade of the Church of Mercês.
In Guatemalan Churrigueresque style, this church has two bell-towers.

  • On the façade of the church, in its upper part, there is a sculpture of St. Peter Nolasco, founder of the Mercedarian Order.
  • Below appears Virgin of Mercy and the Mercedarian shield.
  • The stucco and brick sculptures of St. Raymond Nonnatus and St. Pedro Armengol are found on the left side of the façade.
  • St. Peter Pascual and St. Mary de Cervellione, the first Mercedarian nun, are on the right side.

Fountain of the Fish.
The Fountain of the Fish (Fuente de Pescados) dates from the 18th century.

  • With twenty-seven meters in diameter, it is one of the largest colonial fountains in Latin America.
  • The fountain is shaped like a water lily, a very common flower in the Guatemalan lowlands, especially in lakes and lagoons.
  • In the symbolism of the ancient Mayan peoples, it is associated with creation: a god created a water lily from which the rest of the gods came.

Jesús Nazareno of la Merced.
After the forced transfer of the Mercedarian Jesus Nazareno in 1778 to Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción (Guatemala City) so that the residents of that neighborhood would move to the new capital along with their venerated image, the church of La Merced did not have a Nazarene image.

  • On the other hand, to avoid a repetition of the violent riots in the new city, the authorities decided to leave the image of Jesús Nazareno from the hermitage of San Jerónimo, in the Mulato neighborhood of Antigua Guatemala.
  • This image was transferred to the parish of San Sebastián in 1804 and then, definitively, to the Iglesia de la Merced, where it has been since then and where it has become the most symbolic of Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala.

Holy Week.
Holy Week processions are one of the top tourist attractions in Antigua Guatemala. From La Merced, two iconic processions make their way through the streets during Holy Week

  • They are traditions that have remained intact through many centuries from very early times and they were made with images that are currently in Guatemala City, the current capital of the country since 1776.

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Source

Location

Location: 1a Calle Poniente & 6a Avenida Norte, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala