San Juan del Obispo sits at the foot of Volcán de Agua on a paved road south of Antigua. It was the seat of Guatemala’s first bishop, Francisco Marroquín, whose palace and church still anchor the village, and it is famous for its loquats, which turn up as wine, jam and desserts. Right now it is probably the most up and coming area near Antigua: cobblestone streets and that old Antigua vibe, a few restaurants, and prices well below the city. There are a couple of small condominiums here and one very nice luxury development, so it depends on what you are looking for, but the appeal is the charm at a lower cost, with views back over the valley.
Parador Santa Clara, the newer mall on the road out this way, has a grocery store, restaurants and banking, so residents on this side of town have their day to day conveniences without driving through Antigua.
