La Antigua Attractions

Proceeding northwards from Veracruz along the coast road, there is a turning after 25km/17mi to the little town of La Antigua. Today merely a fishing village, it is historically important because it was here that Cortés landed in 1519 and established his provisional headquarters. He set fire to his ships in the Bay of Antigua so that there was no possibility of the planned campaign of conquest being revoked. In 1524 the main Spanish administration was set up here, although it was subsequently transferred to Veracruz; it is still possible to see the remains of the fort.