Being built in 1694, it has stood proudly for centuries. The arch was known at the time as “Calle del Arco,” or “Street of the Arch.” It was originally built to connect two covenants for cloistered nuns (nuns who have taken a vow to avoid contact with the outside world, which includes being seen in public).

The covenants could be found on either side of the arch, one is called the Covenant of the Virgin, where the nuns lived, and the Covenant of Santa Catalina, where the nuns taught. A hidden passageway can be found within the arch that the nuns used to cross the street without being seen, it can be hard to spot if you’re not purposefully looking for it.

While the arch could be seen as a beautiful place for tourists to take pictures, it has a stronger meaning for the natives of Antigua. After an earthquake in 1773, the arch suffered severe damage but has still managed to survive to this day, creating a strong meaning of resilience for the natives.