Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala — Central America (Central Highlands)

House of Bernal Díaz del Castillo

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, December 19, 2018

1. House of Bernal Díaz del Castillo Marker

The marker was recently restored. This marker and others like it were put up in Antigua and elsewhere to mark the 400th anniversary of the first Spanish city in Guatemala in 1524.

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Aqui estuvo ubicada la casa
donde vivio y escribio
el celebre soldado historiador
heroe de la conquista de
Mexico y Guatemala
Bernal Diaz de Castillo
autor de la
Verdadera Historia
de la Conquista de
Nueva España

English translation:
Here was located the house of
Bernal Diaz de Castillo,
the famous soldier-historian and hero of the conquest of Mexico and Guatemala. He wrote the True History of the Conquest of New Spain.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical year for this entry is 1550.

Location. 14° 33.447′ N, 90° 44.162′ W. Marker is in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez. Marker is at the intersection of 4a Calle Poniente and 7a Avenida Norte, on the left when traveling east on 4a Calle Poniente. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez 03001, Guatemala. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tribute to Ana Guerra de Jesus (within shouting distance of this marker); House of Bartolomé Azmitia Frener (about 150 meters

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away, measured in a direct line); The Lions Club of Antigua Guatemala (about 180 meters away); Signers of the Act of December 25, 1919 (about 240 meters away); Sculptor Quirio Cataño (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Adrian Recinos Born in this House (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); First Printing Press in Central America (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); The Fountain of Antigua's Central Park (approx. 0.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Antigua Guatemala.

Regarding House of Bernal Díaz del Castillo. Bernal Díaz del Castillo (1492 to 1496? – 1584) was a Spanish conquistador, who participated as a common soldier in the conquest of Mexico and Guatemala with Hernán Cortés and Pedro Alvarado. As a soldier of fortune, he participated in expeditions to Cuba and then to the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico before joining Cortés. In his later years he was an encomendero and governor in Guatemala where he wrote his memoirs called "The True History of the Conquest of New Spain". Some of the most reliable information we have about Doña Marina, the slave girl who served

Bernal Díaz del Castillo Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, November 27, 2015

2. Bernal Díaz del Castillo Marker

as a trilingual interpreter for Cortés, later known in legends as "La Malinche", is found in his book. He began his account of the conquest almost thirty years after the actual events (ca. 1550s with the events starting back in 1510-1530). He later revised and expanded it in response to an account published by Cortés's chaplain Francisco López de Gómara, which Diaz Castillo considered to be largely inaccurate in that it did not give due recognition to the efforts and sacrifices of the common soldiers.

The marker is mounted on the previous location of a house were Diaz Castillo lived, but is now found along the southern wall of the ruins of the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jésus (Church of the Jesuits). This church was constructed in 1626, although the adjoining Jesuit school was finished in 1582. The Jesuits were expelled from Guatemala in 1767 and the church severely damaged in the earthquake of 1773.

The marker was likely mounted here in 1924 as part of the 400th anniversary celebrations of the first founding of Santiago de los Caballeros in Guatemala, near present-day Tecpán in 1524 (IV Centenario de la Antigua Guatemala).

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, November 27, 2015

3. Bernal Díaz del Castillo Marker

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, November 19, 2022

4. House of Bernal Díaz del Castillo Marker

Previous location of the House of Bernal Díaz del Castillo Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, November 27, 2015

5. Previous location of the House of Bernal Díaz del Castillo Marker

Now the ruins of the Church of the Jesuits and used as a training center for colonial reconstruction sponsored by the Spanish Cooperation (Cooperación Española). The marker is far down on the left side of the ruins.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 1,046 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 11, 2019, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 2, 3. submitted on November 29, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 4. submitted on March 13, 2023, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 5. submitted on November 29, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.