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The Galant tyrant Don Pedro de Alvarado, commander of Guatemala died tragically in Mexico on the 4th of July, 1541.

His wife Dona Beatriz de la Cueva Learned of the news on August 29th of the same year. It is said that, upon hearing the deep depression she cried inconsolably and claimed disbelief that the heavens would bring her such sadness, she locked herself in her chambers, refusing food and sleep and ordered her palace to be painted black. afterward.

Dona Beatriz stayed locked in her chambers for nine consecutive days. During this time there were heavy storms, so much that the crater of the Hunapú volcano became completely filled with water at the same time, the "Fuego" volcano erupted causing strong tremors through out the region.

On the 9th of September, Dona Beatriz finally emerged from her chambers and announced that she was naming herself governor of Guatemala. Upon signing her declaration, she inscribed her name as "La Sin Ventura", meaning "The Unlucky woman" That same night, as she was retiring to bed about 1:00 in the morning, an earthquake caused Hunapú's crater to break open. After all the heavy rain, a massive mudslide ensued, burying the entire city.

Accompained by several of her attendants, "La Sin Ventura" climbed to the top of the palace for refuge, but died. It is said that no one tried to help her because they had concluded that the disaster was her punishment for having named herself Governor. With the entire valley buried and with it "La Sin Ventura" and nostalgia of her story, the capital was moved to the Valley of Panchoy, what is today Antigua. The romance and melancholy of this story has become an integral part of La Antigua Guatemala's history.

A city that was founded by "La Sin Ventura's" story is destined to bring nostalgic memories to all who walk upon its soil.

(Extracted and translated from la Dama de Negro, Ruiz 1996)