The cathedral on the central park dates from the colonial period, rebuilt and modified several times since the Dominicans first established a church here in the 16th century. The interior is worth a look for the carved wooden altar and the devotional art collected over several centuries of Catholic practice in a predominantly Q'eqchi' Maya region. The mix of indigenous and European influences in the iconography is characteristic of highland Guatemala.
The central park itself is the social hub of the town. In the evenings it fills with locals, and in late July and early August it becomes the focus of the National Folklore Festival, which brings performers from across Guatemala and draws significant crowds. The marimba music that filters through the square during festival time gives the park a completely different character from its usual provincial quiet.