A newly renovated Cerro de la Cruz!
By Elizabeth Bell
A newly created Recreational Park for the Hill of the Cross was the spectacular scenario for the National Symphony of Guatemala during a stellar opening of its renovation on February 11th! While the Municipality of Antigua continues to finalize the installation of trails and ramps with wheelchair accessibility, plans to improve this municipal park continue.
Photo by: @js.hernandez14
The hill was originally known as Cerro del Manchen. Mayor Guillermo Arzú Matheu built the cross in 1930 indicating it was a daunting project in the day to build the windy road up to the area which provides the iconic view of the city still today. With it, the hill adopted the name of the Hill of the Cross. The Park was later enhanced with the bronze sculpture of Santiago Apostol on horseback donated by the Spanish Government in 1971. Reforestation projects were implemented with kids planting eucalyptus and pine trees but very few visited the Cerro de la Cruz for years!
When a local Mayor who had offered to distribute property located throughout the Hill, won the election, local community leaders, founded the Asociación Cerro de la Cruz in 2001. As President, I had the honor of presiding over the work which first included registering three property deeds to secure the area. We worked with local universities and, later, with a newly elected Mayor of Antigua, gathering information for future projects. A grant from INGUAT provided funds to install bathrooms. It was noted that the eucalyptus should be removed as birds don’t nest in it. Thus, plans included reforesting the Hill.
With Municipal funds and additional funds awarded from the Ministry of Culture and Sports, we are so excited that work began on the Hill again in 2022 under the direction of the Mayor of Antigua, Victor Hugo del Pozo. We look forward to having fun on the Hill of the Cross with new activities! Another plus to our monumental city!
Photo: Leonel [nelo] Mijangos
https://www.nelomh.com
IG: @nelomh.com
For the best views of Antigua, take a walk up to Cerro de la Cruz. It’s around a 30-minute walk from the centre of town. Head all the way up 1st Avenue North past the basketball court until you reach the steps on the left that take you to the cross.
Cerro de la Cruz Antigua Guatemala, is open to the public every day from 6 AM-6 PM.
You’ll find a few shops that sell cold drinks and gifts.
Entrance to the park is free.
