Pedro de Alvarado, Captain of the Spanish Army and deputy of Hernan Cortés (Conquer of Mexico) started the conquest of Guatemala at the end of 1523. After Alvarado conquered various native Indians, he founded the first Spanish city in Iximché, capital of the Cackchiquel Kingdom. Cronicles and historians record July 27, 1524 as the founding date in the Libro Viejo (Old Book) for this first "Santiago de Guatemala". However tradition commemorates the feast day of the Apostle Santiago July 25 who was declared patron of the city.

The Cackchikels rebelled immediatly and after two years of fighting the site was abandoned. On November 22, 1527 the city was relocated to the Valle de Almolonga on the lower slopes of the Agua Volcano, later on called Ciudad Vieja(Old City),this second capital was destroyed by an avalanche of mud and water descending from the volcano between the 10th and 11th of September, 1541, after intense rain.

The disaster killed the governor, Beatriz de la Cueva, widow of Pedro de Alvarado. The decision to relocate the city to the Valle de Panchoy was made jointly by Francisco Marroquín(first Bishop of Guatemala) and Francisco de la Cueva, both serving as interim Governors, and the Council.

March 10, 1543 is recorded as the official founding date for the new capital known today as Antigua Guatemala . This city served for two hundred and thirty-two years and nine months as the Capital of the Kingdom and Court of Justice of Guatemala to an area comprised of the provinces of Chiapas, and Soconusco (today a part of Mexico), Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

The city was abandoned on July, 29, 1773 after the destruction of the earthquake called Santa Marta.

In 1776 the capital was relocated to the Valle de la Ermita also called "de la Virgen y de la Asuncion" named "La Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncion" it is still today known as the capital of the Republic of Guatemala and known as Guatemala City.

Although present-day Antigua was abandoned in 1776, it endured as a valuable example of a Spanish city of the 18th century. After a few years some people moved back but without any control or regard for its architectural treasures; therefore many of its buildings deteriorated or were destroyed. It was not until 1944 that its historical value was recognized with the enactment of special laws to preserve its 18th century characteristics.Today it is an active and protected city.