Antigua was once an important hub for the Spanish empire. This history combined with multiple seismic events have left various colonial buildings to fall into ruin over the centuries. You may see several ruins as you wander Antigua, the most impressive ruin complex being Convento de la Recolección. This historic site is not only worth a visit to learn about an interesting piece of Antigua’s history, but also to wander the pretty grounds.
History of Convento de la Recolección
Ruins are what remain today of Convento de la Recolección. However, this was once the site of a huge compound consisting of a church, cloisters, infirmary, pantry, and more established by the Recollects – a branch of the Franciscan order.
By the late 1600s, various factions of the Church had already acquired large amounts of land to build chapels, monasteries, etc. in the area, so the city council denied the request of the first Recollects to build a monastery in Antigua when they arrived in the 1680s. They felt that there were plenty enough in the area.
In 1700, a royal decree ordered that the council permit the Recollects to build their monastery. So, construction began in 1701. Multiple earthquakes damaged La Recolección, the one in 1773 leaving it abandoned due to extensive damage to the area that resulted in the moving of the Spanish operations to present-day Guatemala City. This left the grand buildings to be looted and picked apart to be used for the construction of other buildings.
Today, it is a protected monument that serves as a reminder of the Spanish colonial era and the historical influence of the Church in Antigua.
Getting to Convento de la Recolección
Convento de la Recolección sits on the edge of Antigua, but the city is very walkable. It takes about 15mins to walk there from the center of town. If you’re not up for walking, there are taxis and Uber available in Antigua.
Once outside La Recolección, you’ll find the main entrance along Calle de Recoletos where you’ll enter to buy your ticket.
Fees
Upon arrival, you’ll need to purchase a ticket to access the monument. Entry costs 40Q ($5-6 USD) per adult foreigner and 5Q for Guatemalan citizens. The fee is only payable in cash.
Hours & Regulations
Convento de la Recolección is open daily from 9am-5pm. Hours may vary depending on holidays and events that take place there (it’s a popular wedding venue). There isn’t an official webpage for the site, so you may need to have a little flexibility in the case of closures. You could also try reaching out to Vida Antigua to see if they have any updates on closures or schedule changes during your visit.
When visiting the monument, please do your part to care for the ruins and avoid climbing on or leaning against the walls and other structures. This is a popular picnic spot – properly dispose of any trash or food scraps.
There are trash cans and restrooms on the grounds.
Visiting Convento de la Recolección
We arrived at Convento de la Recolección mid-morning after venturing up to Cerro de la Cruz. Upon paying for our tickets, we were given a brochure containing a map and highlighting some of the site’s history. There weren’t any signs around the complex, so this was nice to have.
We walked through the gardens up to the entrance of the church. While the roof and much of the structure has fallen, some arches, walls, and stairs remain. We made our way around, peeking into various rooms and admiring the courtyards. The ruins were interesting and we had them pretty much to ourselves! We were surprised that there weren’t many people around at all.
We spent about an hour exploring the monument. If you have the time while in Antigua, we definitely recommend a spending a little bit of your day among the ruins.
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