Granada - General Information
Granada, with an estimated population of about 130,000 (2009),
is the oldest city founded by Europeans in Central America and second on the
American Continent (after Cumaná in Venezuela, founded in 1515). The population
of the Granada departmento is 191,000 (2005). It is historically one of
Nicaragua's most important cities. It is situated on the northwestern shore of
Lake Cocibolca and was founded by Francisco Hernandez de Cordóba on December 8,
1524.
Granada is known to be one of the most beautiful cities of
Latin America for its rich colonial heritage, seen in its architecture and
layout. Granada is commonly nicknamed the "Gran Sultana del Gran
Lago" - the Great Sultan of the Great Lake.
Granada was named after Spanish Andalucian Granada by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba. This was done in honor of the defeat of the last Moorish stronghold, Spanish Granada, by the Catholic King and Queen of Spain. Granada, Nicaragua was historically the sister capital in Central America to Antigua, Guatemala. During the colonial period Granada maintained a flourishing level of commerce with ports on the Atlantic, through Lake Nicaragua (Cocibolca) and the San Juan River. The city captured a great deal of attention from many pirates which assaulted the city on three occasions. It was also where William Walker, the American filibuster, took up residence and attempted to take control of Central America as a ruling monarch. Walker set the city ablaze before escaping, destroying much of the ancient city and leaving printed the words "Granada Was Here".
For many years Granada disputed with Léon its hegemony as the major city of Nicaragua. The city of Granada was favored by the Conservatives, while Léon was favored by the Liberals. For many years there was conflict that at times became quite violent between the city’s families and political factions. In the mid 1800s a compromise site was agreed on and the capital was finally established in between both cities at Managua.
The city has been witness and victim to many the battles and invasions from English, French and Dutch pirates trying to take control of Nicaragua. For its beauty, which made the city a pearl of colonial architecture, came the name La Gran Sultana (the Great Sultancy). This name was first used in 1882 by the Spanish writer Emilia Serrano Garcia of Tornell. However, Granada’s political control of Nicaragua was lost in 1893 following a revolution led by the liberal general Jose Santos Zelaya.
The city was considered Nicaragua’s most wealthy in the first years of the 20th century. While it lost its political control of the country, there followed other kinds of commercial and industry developments. Granada never lost its character as a colonial and neoclassic city.
For the most part Granada avoided damage during the years of conflict which existed in Nicaragua in the 1980s. Granada has shown to be a city of character and strength, surviving many of the adversities which it suffered. The citizens dedicated themselves to save and conserve their historic center which now shows not only the gains for diverse administrators, artists, business people and other personalities, but also the deep desire to preserve the future of the national cultural treasure that is Granada. The city of Granada was named historical and cultural heritage by Nicaragua on the 2nd of July, 1995.
Granada is located along the coast of the Lake Cocibolca, the world's twentieth largest lake, and the only freshwater lake to have sharks living in its waters. Granada is the capital city of the Department of Granada, which borders Boaco and Managua to the north, Masaya and Carazo to the east and Rivas to the south. Within the same department, the River Tipitapa which connects the Lake of Managua and Nicaragua passes through it in the north. It also has three volcanic lagoons; Manares, Genirzaro, and the famous Apoyo. Apoyo, which is shared with the Department of Masaya, is the largest volcanic lagoon in Nicaragua.
Granada is a very warm city year round, with very similar temperatures to Managua. This is due to similarities in geography with its close proximity to a lake and surrounded by high hills. Rain in Granada is approximately between 1,100-2,100mm annually.
The vegetation around Granada is a reflection of its climatology. Dry forests and also humid forests skirt the Mombacho volcano. The volcano is also home to a wide array of fauna. The lake is also home to many creatures, both marine and freshwater creatures. It is the only fresh water lake in the world where sharks live (Nicaragua shark & Sawfish). Fishing in the lake is quite good and fisherman, both commercial and recreational, regularly catch guapote and mojarras, as well as sardines. Nicaragua has recently banned freshwater fishing of the Nicaragua shark and sawfish because of population declines.
Other important cities and towns within the Granada district include Malacatoya, El Paso, El Guayabo, Diria, Masatepe, El Guanacaste, Nandaime and Diriomo, known nationally as the last city of witches. Mombacho volcano is the highest point (1,345m) within Granada; the now dormant volcano blew most of its cone into the lake forming the 365 'Isletas de Granada', from where the volcano provides an amazing view. It is also possible on a clear day to see Ometepe and Zapatera Islands. This latter island is the second largest island in Lake Nicaragua and it too is an inactive volcano. It is a national treasure, known for being the home of pre-Colombian statues and idols which were found on the island during the Spanish conquest, these are now exhibited in the Convento San Francisco Museum. Granada has many beaches on Lake Nicaragua, and is very popular around Semana Santa (Holy week).
Granada's economy continues to grow as its tourism industry grows rapidly. Granada remains Nicaragua's third largest city, and is known for preserving some fine colonial-era architecture. This is where the majority of expats live, with many European and Americans purchasing and renovating the area's homes for retirement or holiday homes. There are several foreign realtors established. Granada has long been a center of commerce, including timber, gold and silver.
Today, however there is an ever growing effervescence of tourism growing in Granada. It is now a centre of tourism in Nicaragua. Museums have opened and there are plenty of tour operators. Hotels and "paradores" are abundant in Granada and are continually opening. Restaurants have been growing in numbers and so too have many bars and nightclubs, which are very popular among Granada's residents and tourists alike. Granada, though now highly dependent on tourism, also has fertile agricultural lands within the municipality. Major production of organic coffee and cacao, cattle, plantain and bananas occurs within its boundaries.
Granada is like most of the Nicaraguan Pacific; primarily populated by a Spanish-speaking majority of Mestizos followed by whites. There are also people from the USA, Canada, Spain, Germany, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, and France residing in Granada. This is primarily due to Granada's booming tourist economy. Recently, the number of foreigners seeking colonial homes for purchase has brought a growing number of Europeans and Americans to Granada. Real estate prices are comparatively low although increasing regularly. This influx of foreigners is influencing culture and commerce in Granada.
Most of Granada's streets are quite narrow due to the city's layout before the advent of motorized vehicles. Due to this, many streets are one-way which can add a challenge to visitors traveling by car. After many years of neglect, primarily due to the economic collapse of the nation in the 1980s, most of Granada's buildings and infrastructure began to deteriorate. Roads and public utilities were severely un-maintained. Gradually, more investment has been directed in re-establishing much of Granada's infrastructure and public utilities.
The city government has directed funds towards recognition and restoration of many of Granada's historic structures. The Spanish government has provided financial cooperation for the refurbishment of the city, one of the projects which currently are transforming Calle La Calzada into a Peatonal (foot traffic only) Street.
Granada was named after Spanish Andalucian Granada by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba. This was done in honor of the defeat of the last Moorish stronghold, Spanish Granada, by the Catholic King and Queen of Spain. Granada, Nicaragua was historically the sister capital in Central America to Antigua, Guatemala. During the colonial period Granada maintained a flourishing level of commerce with ports on the Atlantic, through Lake Nicaragua (Cocibolca) and the San Juan River. The city captured a great deal of attention from many pirates which assaulted the city on three occasions. It was also where William Walker, the American filibuster, took up residence and attempted to take control of Central America as a ruling monarch. Walker set the city ablaze before escaping, destroying much of the ancient city and leaving printed the words "Granada Was Here".
For many years Granada disputed with Léon its hegemony as the major city of Nicaragua. The city of Granada was favored by the Conservatives, while Léon was favored by the Liberals. For many years there was conflict that at times became quite violent between the city’s families and political factions. In the mid 1800s a compromise site was agreed on and the capital was finally established in between both cities at Managua.
The city has been witness and victim to many the battles and invasions from English, French and Dutch pirates trying to take control of Nicaragua. For its beauty, which made the city a pearl of colonial architecture, came the name La Gran Sultana (the Great Sultancy). This name was first used in 1882 by the Spanish writer Emilia Serrano Garcia of Tornell. However, Granada’s political control of Nicaragua was lost in 1893 following a revolution led by the liberal general Jose Santos Zelaya.
The city was considered Nicaragua’s most wealthy in the first years of the 20th century. While it lost its political control of the country, there followed other kinds of commercial and industry developments. Granada never lost its character as a colonial and neoclassic city.
For the most part Granada avoided damage during the years of conflict which existed in Nicaragua in the 1980s. Granada has shown to be a city of character and strength, surviving many of the adversities which it suffered. The citizens dedicated themselves to save and conserve their historic center which now shows not only the gains for diverse administrators, artists, business people and other personalities, but also the deep desire to preserve the future of the national cultural treasure that is Granada. The city of Granada was named historical and cultural heritage by Nicaragua on the 2nd of July, 1995.
Granada is located along the coast of the Lake Cocibolca, the world's twentieth largest lake, and the only freshwater lake to have sharks living in its waters. Granada is the capital city of the Department of Granada, which borders Boaco and Managua to the north, Masaya and Carazo to the east and Rivas to the south. Within the same department, the River Tipitapa which connects the Lake of Managua and Nicaragua passes through it in the north. It also has three volcanic lagoons; Manares, Genirzaro, and the famous Apoyo. Apoyo, which is shared with the Department of Masaya, is the largest volcanic lagoon in Nicaragua.
Granada is a very warm city year round, with very similar temperatures to Managua. This is due to similarities in geography with its close proximity to a lake and surrounded by high hills. Rain in Granada is approximately between 1,100-2,100mm annually.
The vegetation around Granada is a reflection of its climatology. Dry forests and also humid forests skirt the Mombacho volcano. The volcano is also home to a wide array of fauna. The lake is also home to many creatures, both marine and freshwater creatures. It is the only fresh water lake in the world where sharks live (Nicaragua shark & Sawfish). Fishing in the lake is quite good and fisherman, both commercial and recreational, regularly catch guapote and mojarras, as well as sardines. Nicaragua has recently banned freshwater fishing of the Nicaragua shark and sawfish because of population declines.
Other important cities and towns within the Granada district include Malacatoya, El Paso, El Guayabo, Diria, Masatepe, El Guanacaste, Nandaime and Diriomo, known nationally as the last city of witches. Mombacho volcano is the highest point (1,345m) within Granada; the now dormant volcano blew most of its cone into the lake forming the 365 'Isletas de Granada', from where the volcano provides an amazing view. It is also possible on a clear day to see Ometepe and Zapatera Islands. This latter island is the second largest island in Lake Nicaragua and it too is an inactive volcano. It is a national treasure, known for being the home of pre-Colombian statues and idols which were found on the island during the Spanish conquest, these are now exhibited in the Convento San Francisco Museum. Granada has many beaches on Lake Nicaragua, and is very popular around Semana Santa (Holy week).
Granada's economy continues to grow as its tourism industry grows rapidly. Granada remains Nicaragua's third largest city, and is known for preserving some fine colonial-era architecture. This is where the majority of expats live, with many European and Americans purchasing and renovating the area's homes for retirement or holiday homes. There are several foreign realtors established. Granada has long been a center of commerce, including timber, gold and silver.
Today, however there is an ever growing effervescence of tourism growing in Granada. It is now a centre of tourism in Nicaragua. Museums have opened and there are plenty of tour operators. Hotels and "paradores" are abundant in Granada and are continually opening. Restaurants have been growing in numbers and so too have many bars and nightclubs, which are very popular among Granada's residents and tourists alike. Granada, though now highly dependent on tourism, also has fertile agricultural lands within the municipality. Major production of organic coffee and cacao, cattle, plantain and bananas occurs within its boundaries.
Granada is like most of the Nicaraguan Pacific; primarily populated by a Spanish-speaking majority of Mestizos followed by whites. There are also people from the USA, Canada, Spain, Germany, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, and France residing in Granada. This is primarily due to Granada's booming tourist economy. Recently, the number of foreigners seeking colonial homes for purchase has brought a growing number of Europeans and Americans to Granada. Real estate prices are comparatively low although increasing regularly. This influx of foreigners is influencing culture and commerce in Granada.
Most of Granada's streets are quite narrow due to the city's layout before the advent of motorized vehicles. Due to this, many streets are one-way which can add a challenge to visitors traveling by car. After many years of neglect, primarily due to the economic collapse of the nation in the 1980s, most of Granada's buildings and infrastructure began to deteriorate. Roads and public utilities were severely un-maintained. Gradually, more investment has been directed in re-establishing much of Granada's infrastructure and public utilities.
The city government has directed funds towards recognition and restoration of many of Granada's historic structures. The Spanish government has provided financial cooperation for the refurbishment of the city, one of the projects which currently are transforming Calle La Calzada into a Peatonal (foot traffic only) Street.
