La Antigua Guatemala was the third capital of the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala, it was extended from what is now Chiapas Mexico until to Costa Rica.

The first capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala was called Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala and was founded in Almolonga Valley, on the Agua volcanoe, and after the flood that killed some Spanish conquistador and important personalities of that time, the capital were removal to a safer location,  Valley of the Shrine , being built by engineer Juan Bautista Antonelli from 1543.