Reception hall
Chandelier and glass.
Hans Birger Nilsen — CC BY-SA 2.0 · K21edgo — CC BY-SA 3.0 · David Rojas — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Reg Natarajan from Vancouver, Bogotá — CC BY 2.0
The capital's best-known building, a huge grey-green stone palace in colonial-revival style, built in the 1940s as the seat of government, jokingly nicknamed «el Guacamolón» by locals for its avocado-sauce colour. Today the National Palace of Culture hosts state ceremonies and exhibitions. Guided tours lead through inner courtyards with fountains and arches, the great reception hall with its huge chandelier and stained glass, murals telling the country's history and balconies over the square. In the Patio of Peace stands a monument to the 1996 peace accords that ended the long civil war. In front of the palace lies the Plaza de la Constitución, the capital's central square, ringed by the cathedral and markets, where the «Kilometre Zero» marker sets the measure for the country's road distances. Zone 1 is busy by day and quiet at night. Watch for pickpockets in crowded places, use known taxis or tourist shuttles, and avoid walking alone at night.
Chandelier and glass.
Fountains and arches.
Out front.
Plaza de la Constitución, Zone 1, central Guatemala City
Yes, on short guided tours for a small fee; times sometimes change around state ceremonies.