Granada | |
|---|---|
.jpg)  Plaza de la Independencia | |
 Flag  Seal | |
  Granada Location in Nicaragua | |
| Coordinates:11°56′N85°57′W / 11.933°N 85.950°W /11.933; -85.950 | |
| Country |  Nicaragua |
| Department | Granada |
| Founded | 21 April 1524; 501 years ago (1524-04-21) |
| Area | |
| 229 sq mi (592 km2) | |
| Population (2022 estimate)[1] | |
| 134,104 | |
| • Density | 587/sq mi (227/km2) |
| • Urban | 105,862(9th Nicaragua) |
| Climate | Aw |
Granada (Spanish pronunciation:[ɡɾaˈnaða]) is a city in westernNicaragua and the capital of theGranada 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, byFrancisco 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 asLa Gran Sultana, in the reflection of its Moorish and Andalusian appearance, unlike its sister city and historical rivalLeón, which displays Castilian trends.
The settlement of Granada was established by Spanish conquistadorHernández de Córdoba, who named it after thecity of the same name in Spain. This was done in honor ofthe city's capture by the forces ofKing Ferdinand II andQueen Isabella I from theEmirate of Granada, which completed thereconquista. During the colonial era, Granada was asister city to the settlement ofAntigua Guatemala, maintained a flourishing level of commerce with ports in theAtlantic Ocean viaLake Cocibolca and theSan Juan River, and was subject to attacks fromEnglish,French andDutchpirates who unsuccessfully attempted to take control of the settlement by sailing up the San Juan River.[3]
For many years Granada disputed withLeón its hegemony as the major city of Nicaragua. The city of Granada was favored by theConservatives, while Léon was favored by theLiberals. 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 atManagua 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 inLeón led byJosé 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]
Granada was also the site where AmericanfilibusterWilliam Walker took up residence and attempted to take control ofCentral 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 theSandinista Era in the 1970–80s.
Granada is located along the coast of theLake 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 andManagua 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 and 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 theMombacho volcano. The volcano is also home to a wide array offauna(SeeWildlife 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 catchguapote andmojarras, as well assardines. Nicaragua has recently banned fishing of the Nicaragua shark andsawfish because of population decline.[12]
Other 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 365Islets of Granada. It is also possible on a clear day to seeOmetepe andZapatera Islands.[citation needed] The later island is the second largest island inLake Nicaragua, and also harbors an inactive volcano. The largest is Ometepe Island, also located in Lake Nicaragua. Severalpre-Columbian statues and idols were found on the island during theSpanish 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 several beaches on Lake Nicaragua which are very popular aroundSemana Santa ("Holy Week").[citation needed]
Granada has long been a center of commerce, includingtimber,gold andsilver. 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 ofMatagalpa, Leon,Corinto and the surrounding beaches of Leon and Corinto.
Museums have opened, and new hotels and restaurants are proliferating at a fast rate.[citation needed]
Granada, though now dependent on tourism, also has fertile agricultural land within the municipality. Major production of organiccoffee andcacao,cattle,plantains andbananas occurs within its boundaries.[citation needed]
Granada's restaurants have received recognition by newspapers like the New York Times.[19]In the city of Granada, there are a number of restaurants including Pita Pita, Garden Café & La Hacienda.In recent years,[when?] the city of Granada's evolving culinary scene mixes local and international flavors, as well as supportingfarm-to-table sustainability of local growers and producers.[citation needed]Granada's economy continues to grow in big part because it has become a tourist attraction for its colonial architecture, as well as its ecology and now as a food destination.[20]
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.[citation needed]
Following many years of neglect, primarily due to the economic collapse of the nation in the 1980s, most of Granada's buildings andinfrastructure began to deteriorate. Roads and public utilities fell into disrepair.
In the decades that followed, however, the city government directed funds towards recognition andrestoration 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.[21]
Granada, like most of the Nicaraguan Pacific, is populated primarily by a Spanish-speaking majority ofMestizos. Residing here also are people from theUnited States,Canada,Spain,Germany,Italy,Ireland,Austria, theNetherlands, andFrance.
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."[22] In 2020, it issued a Level 4, "Do Not Travel" advisory due to COVID-19.[23] The city is recognized as a "Design City" byUNESCO'sCreative Cities Network.
Granada is twinned with:
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