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Before we headed towards the and Convent of la Merced we still had time to walk around the cloister of the Convent of Capuchinas, which naturally reflected the austerity of the order, particularly noticeable when we reached the area of the nuns'cells.
The oldest structures of the Church and Convent of la Merced date from the seventeenth century, amongst which the amazingly beautiful facade on whose to stands the effigy of San Pedro Nolasco, who founded the order of the blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy flanked by two mercederies. In the central niche the effigy of our Lady of Mercdes flanked to the left by the effigies of San Raymundo Nonnatos and San Pedro Pedro Arinengol, to the right side the mercedary bishop San Pedro Pascual and the first mercedary nun Santa Maria de Cervellon.
The elegant Cupola surrounded by lions catches one's attention but so do the barroque decorative compositions.
A huge fountain Fuente de Peces, in the middle of the cloister is also worth noting. It is said to have the shape of a waterlily because of being the symbol of power among the Mayas. It ows its name to the fact that it used to "breed" fish during the colonial time.
From the second level of the ruins one could clearly view the volcanos, one of which seemed to be "active" at the time.
As we headed back in the direction of the Townhall square we once more "walked into the colonial past", which further reinforced the idea that Antigua "has survived modernazition and development", having become a "living Museum".
(to be continued)
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