Cerro de la Cruz — the Hill of the Cross — is a viewpoint on a hillside north of the city, reached by a steep twenty-minute walk from the centre. At the top, a large white cross overlooks the entire valley, with Antigua laid out below: the terracotta rooftops and the ruins, the yellow arch, the towers of the churches, and behind everything the three volcanoes lined up along the southern horizon.
The panorama is particularly good in the early morning and late afternoon, when the light is warm and the volcanoes are most clearly visible. The hill was once a favourite spot for robberies, but police now patrol the path regularly and it's considered safe for independent visits during the day. Come early to beat both the heat and the tour groups. The cross itself is unremarkable, but the view from beside it is the best easy vantage point over Antigua.