Arco de Santa Catalina

Arco de Santa Catalina (5a Avenida Norte, Antigua) — the Santa Catalina Arch is
one of the distinguishable landmarks in Antigua — located on 5th Avenue North. Built in
the 17th century, it originally connected the Santa Catalina convent to a school, allowing
the cloistered nuns to pass from one building to the other without going out on the
street.
Earthquake activity in 1773 damaged the convent and arch. Though partially restored,
the convent was finally abandoned in 1776 and refurbished in 1850. In the 1890s, more
renovations to this site resulted in the addition of a clock tower. When another
earthquake struck the town in 1976, the clock incurred some damage, and was repaired
years later (in 1991). Nowadays, the arch is the town’s more photographed attraction,
as well as being a gathering place for New Year’s festivities.