By Staff / image from archive ANTIGUA GUATEMALA – Few literary works have managed to transcend borders like Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince). However, what many international readers remain unaware of is that the visual and spiritual genesis of this masterpiece lies within the landscapes of the City of Santiago de los Caballeros and the shores of Lake Atitlán.

In 1938, the aviator and writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry suffered a serious plane crash at La Aurora Airport. His recovery took place in Antigua Guatemala—a period of convalescence that, according to historians and biographers, profoundly shaped the aesthetics of his book, published years later in 1943.

Volcanic Symbology and the "Cerro de Oro"

The most compelling evidence lies in the geography. While the Little Prince tends to three volcanoes on his asteroid, the city of Antigua is guarded by an almost identical triad: the Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango volcanoes. Furthermore, the iconic illustration of "the boa constrictor that had swallowed an elephant" bears an undeniable geographical resemblance to the Cerro de Oro (Hill of Gold), located on the shores of Lake Atitlán.