The Highlands - Guatemala - page 271

The ornately carved facade of the Iglesia del Espíritu Santo marks the site of the original
1532 construction, pulverized by the quakes of 1853 and 1902. The modern Metropolitan
Cathedral behind it was finished in the 1990s.
The municipalidad OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP (Town Hallv; ) , at the northeastern end of the
park, was rebuilt after the 1902 earthquake in the grandiose neoclassical style. Step inside
to see a planted mosaic of the town seal. Another neoclassical structure just north, the Edi-
ficio Rivera OFFLINE MAP

GOOGLE MAP , has been handsomely renovated (complete with fast-

food franchise).
On the west side of the park between 4a and 5a Calles is the Pasaje Enríquez OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP (btwn 4a & 5a Calles) , an imposing arcade patterned after a structure in Florence,
Italy, housing an assortment of travel agencies, language institutes, cafes and one major
bar.

Parque Zoológico Minerva
OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP
( 7763-5637; Av Las Américas 0-50, Zona 3; 9am-5pm Tue-Sun) About 2km northwest of Parque
Centro América, near the Terminal Minerva bus station is this zoo, with monkeys, coyotes
and Barbary sheep, plus a few rides for children.

ZOO

Templo de Minerva
OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP
Outside the zoo on an island in the middle of 4a Calle stands this neoclassical temple built
by dictator Estrada Cabrera to honor the Roman goddess of education and to inspire
Guatemalans to new heights of learning.

MONUMENT

Centro Intercultural de Quetzaltenango
OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP

CULTURAL CENTER

(4a Calle & 19 Av, Zona 3) Quetzaltenango's railroad station, 1km east of the Templo de Min-
erva along 4a Calle, lay dormant for years until the city converted it into this center with
schools of art and dance and three fine museums.
The Museo Ixkik' OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP ( 7761-6472; admission Q25; 9am-1pm & 2-6pm) is
devoted to Maya weaving and traditional outfits, while some 200 paintings by Guatem-
ala's leading modernists are exhibited in the Museo de Arte OFFLINE MAP

GOOGLE MAP (admission

8am-noon & 2-6pm) , including works by Efraín Recinos, Juan Antonio Franco and the Q6;