Granada, Nicaragua

Municipality in Granada Department, Nicaragua

Granada

Municipality

La Catedral de Granada, seen from la Iglesia de la Merced

Flag

Seal

Granada

Location in Nicaragua

Coordinates: 11°56′N 85°57′W﻿ / ﻿11.933°N 85.950°W﻿ / 11.933; -85.950
Country|  Nicaragua
Department| Granada Department
Founded| 1524
Area

• Municipality| 229 sq mi (592 km2)
Population

(2022 estimate)[1]

• Municipality| 134,104
• Density| 590/sq mi (230/km2)
• Urban

| 105,862 (9th Nicaragua)
Climate| Aw

Granada (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡɾaˈnaða]) is a city in western Nicaragua and the capital of the Granada Department. With an estimated population of 105,862 (2022),[2] it is Nicaragua's ninth most populous city. Granada is historically one of Nicaragua's most important cities, economically and politically. It has a rich colonial heritage, seen in its architecture and structure.

Granada had a thriving Indigenous population. In 1524, the city was renamed Granada, by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, ostensibly the first European city in mainland America. Unlike other cities that claim the same distinction, the city of Granada was not only the settlement of the conquest, but also a city registered in official records of the Crown of Aragon, and the Kingdom of Castile in Spain.

Granada is also known as La Gran Sultana, in the reflection of its Moorish and Andalusian appearance, unlike its sister city and historical rival León, which displays Castilian trends.

## History[edit]

Granada street scene, circa 1905 Old Market Building of Granada in 1880

The settlement of Granada was established by Spanish conquistador Hernández de Córdoba, who named it after the city of the same name in Spain. This was done in honor of the city's capture by the forces of King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I from the Emirate of Granada, which completed the reconquista. During the colonial era, Granada was a sister city to the settlement of Antigua Guatemala, maintained a flourishing level of commerce with ports in the Atlantic Ocean via Lake Cocibolca and the San Juan River, and was subject to attacks from English, French and Dutch pirates who unsuccessfully attempted to take control of the settlement by sailing up the San Juan River.[3]

For many years Granada disputed with León 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 cities' families and political factions. In the mid-19th century a compromise site was agreed on and the capital was finally established at Managua between both cities.[citation needed] As of 1850, Granada had a population of approximately 10,000.[4]

On 29 May 1834, Cándido Flores, head of the military forces of Granada, revolted against the Government in León led by José Núñez, demanding the reform of the federal Constitution. After being defeated in Managua he could not organize a resistance in Granada, so he left the city to a disorganized mob that committed lootings and robberies, especially in the houses of foreigners.[5]

American-born General William Walker reviewing his troops on the Grand Plaza, Granada, capital of Nicaragua. Illustration for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, June 21 of 1856.

Granada was also the site where American filibuster William Walker took up residence and attempted to take control of Central America and create independent colonies with economies based on slavery. One of Walker's generals, Charles Frederick Henningsen, set the city ablaze before escaping, destroying much of the colonial-era architecture and inscribed the words "Here was Granada" on the ruins before he left.[6][7]

Granada avoided much of the tumult of the Sandinista Era in the 1970–80s.

## Geography[edit]

San Francisco Convent Church, built in 1685-late 18th century by the Franciscans.[8][9][10]

Granada is located along the coast of the Lake Nicaragua (a.k.a. Lake Cocibolca), the world's twentieth largest lake.

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 all 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. Rainfall in Granada is approximately between 1,100-2,100 mm annually, with an annual average temperature reported to be 25.7 °C. [11]

The vegetation around Granada is a reflection of its climatology. Dry and humid forests skirt the Mombacho volcano. The volcano is also home to a wide array of fauna (See Wildlife of Nicaragua). The lake is also home to many creatures, both marine and freshwater creatures. It is the only freshwater lake in the world where sharks live (Nicaragua shark). Fishing in the lake is quite good, and fishermen, both commercial and recreational, regularly catch guapote and mojarras, as well as sardines. Nicaragua has recently banned fishing of the Nicaragua shark and sawfish because of population decline.[12]

Other important cities and towns within the Granada district include Malacatoya, El Paso, El Guayabo, Diria, Macatepe, El Guanacaste, Nandaime and Diriomo, known nationally as the last city of witches. Mombacho volcano is the highest point (1,345 m) within Granada; the now dormant volcano blew most of its cone into the lake, forming the 365 Islets of Granada, from where the volcano provides an amazing view. It is also possible on a clear day to see Ometepe and Zapatera Islands. The later island is the second largest island in Lake Nicaragua, and also harbors an inactive volcano. The largest is Ometepe Island, also located in Lake Nicaragua. It is a national treasure, known as the home of pre-Columbian statues and idols, which were found on the island during the Spanish conquest, and now exhibited in the Convento San Francisco Museum, as well as in other museums and parks located on Ometepe Island.[13]

Granada has many beaches on Lake Nicaragua which are very popular around Semana Santa ("Holy Week").

## Economy and tourism[edit]

See also: Tourism in Nicaragua

Atravesada street Preserved Colonial Church of Nuestra Señora de la Merced, built in 1534-1783, by the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy.[14][15] Granada Cathedral built in 1751.[16] Xalteva Church, it was originally built during colonial times and due to its location it was used as a military fortress. The façade and interior were rebuilt after its destruction by William Walker the filibuster, it was finally rebuilt in 1890-1898.[17][18]

Granada has long been a center of commerce, including timber, gold and silver. Granada's economy continues to grow as it is becoming a hub for tourism. Though Granada remains Nicaragua's sixth largest city, it is widely known for preserving some of the finest colonial-era architecture in the country.

A real estate boom had been underway for several years, with many European and Americans purchasing and renovating the area's homes for retirement or holiday homes and several foreign realtors establishing offices, but that boom slowed in 2007. The prior escalation of real estate prices in Granada and other parts of Southwestern Nicaragua has led to a shift of investor attention toward Northern Nicaragua and the cities of Matagalpa, Leon, Corinto and the surrounding beaches of Leon and Corinto.

Museums have opened, and new hotels and restaurants are proliferating at a fast rate.

Granada, though now highly dependent on tourism, also has fertile agricultural land within the municipality. Major production of organic coffee and cacao, cattle, plantains and bananas occurs within its boundaries.

## Gastronomy[edit]

See also: Tourism in Nicaragua

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Granada's restaurants have received international recognition by newspapers like the New York Times. In the city of Granada, there are many restaurants including Pita Pita, Garden Café & La Hacienda. In recent years, the city of Granada's evolving culinary scene mixes local and international flavors, as well as supporting farm-to-table sustainability of local growers and producers. Granada's economy continues to grow in big part because it is fast becoming a tourist attraction for its colonial architecture, as well as its ecological beauty and now as a food destination.

## Infrastructure[edit]

A street of Granada

Most of Granada's streets are narrow, as the city evolved centuries before the advent of motorized vehicles. Therefore, today, many streets allow only one-way traffic, offering a challenge to visitors traveling by car.

Following 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 fell into disrepair.

In the decades that followed, however, the city government 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 such project is transforming Calle La Calzada into a pedestrian street.[19]

## Relevant historical architecture, streets and attractions[edit]

Plaza de la Independencia View of Granada and Central Park from the Cathedral. View of Granada Town Square Streets of Granada.

* San Francisco Church and Museum
* Xalteva Church
* Plazuela de los Leones
* Plaza de la Independencia
* Central Park
* Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral
* Guadalupe Church
* Calle La Calzada
* Calle Atravesada
* La Merced Church
* Fortin de San Pablo
* Fuerte La Pólvora
* Episcopal Palace
* Alcaldía Municipal
* San Antonio College
* Diocesan College
* Old Social Club
* Old Railway Station

## Culture[edit]

See also: Culture of Nicaragua

Granada, like most of the Nicaraguan Pacific, is populated primarily by a Spanish-speaking majority of Mestizos. Residing here also are people from the United States, Canada, Spain, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Austria, the Netherlands, and France.

Until recently, Nicaragua was experiencing a booming tourist economy. This, in turn, attracted foreigners to Granada seeking colonial homes for purchase, adding a growing number of Europeans and Americans to the city's population. Real estate prices had increased following the foreign interest and subsequent investments. However, with the 2018 civil conflict, the US Department of State issued a travel advisory, citing "civil unrest, crime, limited healthcare availability, and arbitrary enforcement of laws."[20] In 2020, it issued a Level 4, "Do Not Travel" advisory due to COVID 19.[21]

## International relations[edit]

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Nicaragua

### Twin towns – Sister cities[edit]

Granada is twinned with:

* Badajoz, Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain
* Santa Ana de Coro, Venezuela
* Terrassa, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
* Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany
* Dos Hermanas, Seville, Andalusia, Spain

* Cartago, Costa Rica
* Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
* Comayagua, Honduras
* Santa Tecla, El Salvador

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## References[edit]

1. ^ Citypopulation.de Population of Granada municipality
2. ^ Citypopulation.de Population of the major cities in Nicaragua
3. ^ Granada, Nicaragua History Archived 2008-08-27 at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ Baily, John (1850). Central America; Describing Each of the States of Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. London: Trelawney Saunders. p. 144.
5. ^ Andrés Vega Bolaños (1944). «Gobernantes de Nicaragua» p. 71
6. ^ Festival En Granada, Nicaragua
7. ^ Hittell, Theodore Henry. History of California (N. J. Stone, 1898), 797.
8. ^ "Iglesia San Francisco". vianica.com.
9. ^ Yamil Jiménez Tabash (2018). Diccionario biográfico del filibusterismo. Editorial Costa Rica. p. 424\. ISBN 9789930549964.
10. ^ Bridget Gleeson, Alex Egerton (2016). Lonely Planet Nicaragua. Lonely Planet. ISBN 9781786573049.
11. ^ "Climate Granada: Temperature, climate graph, Climate table for Granada". en.climate-data.org. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
12. ^ Nicaragua bans freshwater shark fishing amid dwindling population numbers
13. ^ "Ometepe Island Info - Things To Do Information". ometepeislandinfo.com. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
14. ^ "Iglesia La Merced". vianica.com.
15. ^ Pan American Union (1910). Monthly Bulletin of the International Bureau of the American Republics. Volume 31, Part 2. United States Government Publishing Office. p. 938.
16. ^ "Catedral de Granada". nicadestino.com.
17. ^ "Iglesia de Xalteva". vianica.com.
18. ^ Richard Arghiris (2014). "Footprint Focus - Nicaragua". Footprint. p. 104\. ISBN 9781907263897.
19. ^ elnuediario.com.ni Project for Calle La Calzada Archived 2006-03-02 at the Wayback Machine
20. ^ "Nicaragua Travel Advisory". travel.state.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
21. ^ "Global Level 4 Health Advisory – Do Not Travel". travel.state.gov. Archived from the original on 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2020-06-22.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Granada, Nicaragua.

* Granada City Tourism Page

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Granada (Nicaragua).

* v
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Granada Department

Capital: Granada

Municipalities|

* Diria
* Diriomo
* Granada
* Nandaime

* v
* t
* e

Spanish / Hispanic Colonial architecture articles

Notable historic centers|

* Agaña
* Antigua Guatemala
* Albuquerque
* Arequipa
* Bogotá
* Campeche
* Cartagena de Indias
* Cebú
* Cienfuegos
* Coro
* Cuenca
* Cuernavaca
* Cusco
* Granada
* Guanajuato
* Havana
* Iloílo
* La Paz
* León
* Los Ángeles
* Lima
* Malabo
* Malolos
* Manila
* Mexico City
* Mompox
* Morelia
* New Orleans
* Oaxaca
* Old Panamá
* Panamá City
* Popayán
* Puebla
* Quito
* Saint Augustine
* San Antonio
* San Diego
* San Fernando
* San Francisco
* San Juan
* San Luis Potosí
* San Miguel de Allende
* Santa Cruz de la Sierra
* Santa Fe
* Santiago de Chile
* Santiago de Cuba
* Santo Domingo
* Sucre
* Taal
* Tayabas
* Trujillo
* Veracruz
* Vigan
* Zacatecas
* Zamboanga

Spanish missions|

* List of Spanish missions

Lists of buildings|

* Oldest
* Cusco
* Mexico City Spanish churches

Cathedrals|

* Argentina
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* Florida
* Louisiana
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* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Churches and monasteries|

* Baroque Churches of the Philippines
* Bohol
* Chiloé
* Mendicant monasteries in Mexico
* Popocatépetl

Fortifications|

* Presidio
* Caribbean coast of Panama
* Coasts of Chile
* Philippines
* Santo Domingo

Bridges and roads|

* Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
* Tayabas

Other building types|

* Alhóndiga
* Bahay na bato
* Balconies of Lima
* Bullring
* Convent
* Hacienda
* Haciendas in the Valley of Ameca
* Cabildo
* Colonial universities in Hispanic America
* Colonial universities in the Philippines
* Plaza

Architecture types|

* Baroque
* Andean
* Churrigueresque
* Earthquake
* Mexican
* Chilotan
* Monterey Colonial
* Neoclassical
* Renaissance
* Rococo
* Territorial

Modern Revival styles|

* California Churrigueresque Revival
* Mission Revival
* Spanish Colonial Revival
* Territorial Revival

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Spanish Empire

Timeline–immersed

* Catholic Monarchs
* Conquest of the Americas, Asia and the Pacific
* Treaty of Tordesillas
* Italian Wars
* Habsburgs
* Golden Age
* War of the League of Cognac
* Encomiendas
* New Laws in favour of the indigenous
* Expulsion of the Moriscos
* Ottoman–Habsburg wars
* French Wars of Religion
* Bruneian–Spanish conflict
* Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)
* Piracy in the Caribbean
* Eighty Years' War
* Spanish–Moro conflict
* Thirty Years' War
* Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659)
* Portuguese Restoration War
* War of the Spanish Succession
* Queen Anne's War
* Bourbons
* Bourbon Reforms
* War of Jenkins' Ear
* Treaty of Madrid (1750)
* Seven Years' War
* Nootka Convention
* Napoleonic invasion
* Third Treaty of San Ildefonso
* Independence of Spanish continental Americas
* Adams–Onís Treaty
* Liberal constitution
* Carlist Wars
* Spanish–American War
* German–Spanish Treaty (1899)
* Spanish Civil War
* Independence of Morocco
* Independence of Equatorial Guinea
* Western Sahara conflict

Territories

Europe

* Spain
* Crown of Castille
* Crown of Aragon
* Union with Portugal
* Gibraltar
* Southern Italy (Kingdoms of Naples, Sicily and Sardinia)
* Milan
* Union with Holy Roman Empire
* Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, northernmost France
* Franche-Comté
* Pyrénées-Orientales

Asia

* Philippines
* Pacific Islands (Guam, Mariana, Caroline, Micronesia, Palau)
* Northern Taiwan
* Tidore

North America

* New Spain (Coastal Alaska, Central United States (Spanish Louisiana), Western United States (Spanish Texas), Florida, Mexico [es], Central America (Captaincy General of Yucatan), Spanish Caribbean)

Central America

* Captaincy General of Guatemala
* Cuba
* Dominican Republic
* Puerto Rico
* Trinidad
* Jamaica
* Haiti
* Aruba
* Curazao
* Bonaire
* Belize

South America

* New Granada (Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, part of Guyana, a northernmost portion of Brazilian Amazon)
* Peru (Peru, Acre, Chile)
* Río de la Plata (Argentina, Paraguay, Charcas (Bolivia), Banda Oriental (Uruguay), Misiones Orientales, Malvinas)

Africa

* Equatorial Guinea
* Northern Africa (Western Sahara, Spanish Morocco, Tripoli, Tunis, Peñón of Algiers, Oran, Béjaïa, Ifni and Cape Juby)

Antarctica

* Terra Australis

Administration

* Archivo de Indias
* Council of the Indies
* Cabildo
* Exequatur
* Laws of the Indies
* Papal bull
* Royal Decree of Graces
* Trial of residence
* School of Salamanca

Administrative subdivisions

| Viceroyalties|

* Columbian
* New Spain
* New Granada
* Perú
* Río de la Plata

|

Captaincies General|

* Chile
* Cuba
* Guatemala
* Philippines
* Provincias Internas
* Puerto Rico
* Santo Domingo
* Venezuela
* Yucatán

Governorates|

* Castilla de Oro
* Cuba
* La Florida
* La Luisiana
* New Andalusia (1501–1513)
* New Andalusia
* New Castile
* New Navarre
* New Spain
* New Toledo
* Paraguay
* Río de la Plata
* Terra Australis

Audiencias|

* Bogotá
* Buenos Aires
* Caracas
* Charcas
* Concepción
* Cusco
* Guadalajara
* Guatemala
* Lima
* Manila
* Mexico
* Panamá
* Quito
* Santiago
* Santo Domingo

Economy

| Currencies|

* Dollar (Peso)
* Real
* Maravedí
* Escudo
* Columnario
* Doubloon

|

Trade|

* Manila galleon
* Spanish treasure fleet
* Casa de Contratación
* Spanish Road
* Guipuzcoan Company of Caracas
* Barcelona Trading Company
* Consulate of the Sea
* Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
* Commerce Consulate of Buenos Aires

Military

| Armies|

* Tercio
* Army of Flanders
* Free Company of Volunteers of Catalonia
* Indian auxiliaries
* Spanish Armada
* Ships of the line
* Royalists
* Legión

|

Strategists|

* Duke of Alba
* Antonio de Leyva
* Martín de Goiti
* Alfonso d'Avalos
* García de Toledo Osorio
* Duke of Savoy
* Álvaro de Bazán the Elder
* John of Austria
* Charles Bonaventure de Longueval
* Pedro de Zubiaur
* Ambrosio Spinola
* Blas de Lezo
* Bernardo de Gálvez

Mariners|

* Christopher Columbus
* Pinzón brothers
* Ferdinand Magellan
* Juan Sebastián Elcano
* Juan de la Cosa
* Juan Ponce de León
* Miguel López de Legazpi
* Pedro Menéndez de Avilés
* Sebastián de Ocampo
* Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
* Alonso de Ojeda
* Vasco Núñez de Balboa
* Alonso de Salazar
* Andrés de Urdaneta
* Antonio de Ulloa
* Ruy López de Villalobos
* Diego Columbus
* Alonso de Ercilla
* Nicolás de Ovando
* Juan de Ayala
* Sebastián Vizcaíno
* Juan Fernández
* Luis Fajardo
* Felipe González de Ahedo

Conquistadors|

* Hernán Cortés
* Francisco Pizarro
* Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada
* Hernán Pérez de Quesada
* Francisco Vázquez de Coronado
* Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar
* Pedro de Valdivia
* Gaspar de Portolà
* Pere Fages i Beleta
* Joan Orpí
* Pedro de Alvarado
* Martín de Ursúa
* Diego de Almagro
* Pánfilo de Narváez
* Diego de Mazariegos
* Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera
* Pere d'Alberní i Teixidor
* García López de Cárdenas

Notable battles|

| Old World|

| Won|

* Comuneros
* Bicocca
* Rome (1527)
* Landriano
* Pavia
* Tunis
* Mühlberg
* St. Quentin
* Gravelines
* Malta
* Lepanto
* Antwerp
* Azores
* Mons
* Gembloux
* Ostend
* English Armada
* Cape Celidonia
* White Mountain
* Breda
* Nördlingen
* Valenciennes
* Ceuta
* Bitonto
* Bailén
* Vitoria
* Tetouan
* Alhucemas

|

Lost|

* Capo d'Orso
* Vienna (1529)
* Preveza
* Siege of Castelnuovo
* Algiers
* Ceresole
* Balearic Islands (1558)
* Djerba
* Tunis
* Spanish Armada
* Leiden
* Rocroi
* Downs
* Montes Claros
* Passaro
* Manila Bay
* Trafalgar
* Somosierra
* Annual
* Mactan

New World|

| Won|

* Tenochtitlan
* Cajamarca
* Cusco
* Bogotá savanna
* Penco
* Mataquito
* Guadalupe Island
* Recife
* San Juan (1595)
* Bahia
* Colonia del Sacramento
* Comuneros (Paraguay)
* Cartagena de Indias
* Cuerno Verde
* Túpac Amaru II
* Túpac Katari
* Pensacola
* Newfoundland
* San Juan (1797)

|

Lost|

* La Noche Triste
* Iguape
* Tucapel
* Guiana
* Curalaba
* Comuneros (New Granada)
* Trinidad (1797)
* Chacabuco
* Boyacá
* Carabobo
* Pichincha
* Ayacucho
* Guam
* Santiago de Cuba
* Asomante

Spanish conquests

* Canary Islands
* The Americas
* Aztec
* Maya
* Chiapas
* Yucatán
* Guatemala
* Petén
* El Salvador
* Honduras
* Nicaragua
* Chibchan Nations
* Colombia
* Chile
* Inca
* Philippines

Other civil topics

* Spanish missions in the Americas
* Architecture
* Mesoamerican Codices
* Cusco painting tradition
* Indochristian painting in New Spain
* Quito painting tradition
* Tapada limeña
* Academia Antártica
* Colonial universities in Hispanic America
* Colonial universities in the Philippines
* General Archive of the Indies
* Colonial Spanish Horse
* Mustang
* Castas
* Criollos in the colonial society
* Old inquisition
* Slavery in Spanish Empire
* Asiento
* Law of coartación (which allowed slaves to buy their freedom, and that of others)
* Great Potosí Mint Fraud of 1649

11°56′N 85°57′W﻿ / ﻿11.933°N 85.950°W﻿ / 11.933; -85.950

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