Antigua de Guatemala, La Iglesia de la Merced and Bust of Saint Peter Nolasco

Mersedarians is a Catholic monastic order, founded in 1218 by St. Peter Nolasco. The main purpose of the order was the ransom of Christians from Muslim captivity. The name comes from the Spanish word "merced" (mercy).
The Mercedarians were the first to establish a male monastery at the former Santiago de Guatemala. They erected a building of low height designed to withstand earthquakes based on the experiences of the tremor of 1751. Arches and columns are wider to cope with the quakes. It was opened in 1767.