After the Santa Marta Earthquakes of 1773 that destroyed Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala , there was a large argument between Spanish and clerical authorities on whether to move the city to a new location . Against strong opposition of archbishop Pedro Cortés y Larraz , Captain General Martin de Mayorga decided to impose the move to its new location in the Ermita Valley ; Cortés y Larraz was afraid that with the move the church had to begin from scratch and would lose part , if not all , of its power and influence . The cathedral moved to the new capital on 22 November 1779 , but all the interior ornaments that had not been destroyed by the earthquake in the old building remained behind in what was now called Antigua Guatemala ; in 1783 they were taken away from the frail ruins and stored in the old Universidad de San Carlos Borromeo building and in the El Sagrario Parish warehouse , which was also open the public in a section of the old cathedral
Santa Marta Earthquakes
1773 Guatemala earthquake
Cathedral of Guatemala City