La Merced Church (Iglesia de la Merced)

This church's central plaza is one of the most important launching points for processions during Holy Week. Built in a baroque style and adorned with stucco pilasters, it's also one of the best restored and preserved in the city.

The History of Iglesia de la Merced The Iglesia de la Merced has a history that dates back to colonial times. The Mercedarian order, a Catholic religious group, founded the church in Antigua in the 16th century. However, the building we see today was completed in the mid-18th century, between 1749 and 1767.

Although Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion of Guatemalans, especially among the Maya, it is often heavily influenced and intertwined with beliefs of pre-Columbian origin. There has been a big increase and conversion to Evangelical Protestantism, as it encourages a sense of self improvement.

In the latter 19th century, the La Merced market was established in the area replacing the massive La Merced monastery which was almost completely destroyed in the 1860s. This market was established to centralize the marketing of foodstuffs for the city on one area.