chruch crypts

One of the other practices the Spaniards brought with them is the burial of the wealthy and influential patrons under the flooring of the churches.  

The deceased were buried under a dirt floor inside the crypt with lime and eventually moved into an ossuary in the same crypt. Coffins are not common and it was very rare to have a tombstone. 

The cathedral in the main park has some of the few crypts visitors may visit including one under a chapel that is currently used by mayan spiritual guides for ceremonies. Under the main altar, the remains of the conqueror Pedro they Alvarado and Bishop Francisco Marroquin are believed to have been buried. The remains are excavated in 1943 And put in a box in the local courthouse.

A beautifully excavated crypt is below the Santo Domingo church and has an exquisite mural painting from 1636. 

built from cacao money

fun fact.  there are about 26 catholic churches in one square kilometer [half a mile] that is considered the city of Antigua.  this is the cathedral at the central park [don't call it the square or the center - people will say they don't know what you are talking about] -  only a portion of it is still used.  like many ruins in Antigua, massive portions of the structure are left where they landed during the earthquakes.  

the architect who designed one of the rebuilds of the cathedral is credited with the ability of the superstructure to withstand additional earthquakes.  it provides a spectacular view of the sky on a clear day.

so, what does this have to do with cacao? one of the crops highly valued by the spaniards was cacao from which chocolate is made. much of present day guatemala was planted with cacao that was exported to spain. it is the cacao trade that funded the origninal cathedral.