Granada: Colonial City (Nicaragua)

Published 3 years ago

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Granada: Colonial City (Nicaragua)

Thu, 06/25/2020 - 11:52

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City/Town

Granada is a city in southwestern Nicaragua that lies on the shore of Lake Nicaragua and at the foot of the Mombacho Volcano. It is historically one of Nicaragua's most important cities, both economically and politically, with a rich colonial heritage, as seen in its architecture and structure.

Granada, Nicaragua

Granada is a city in southwestern Nicaragua that lies on the western shore of Lake Nicaragua and at the foot of the Mombacho Volcano. The city is the capital of the Department of Granada and Nicaragua's sixth most populous, with an approximate population of 105,000 as of 2021.

Granada is historically one of Nicaragua's most important cities, economically and politically. It has long been a center of commerce, including timber, gold, and silver. The city's economy continues to grow as it becomes a tourism hub.

Though Granada remains Nicaragua's sixth largest city, it is widely known for preserving some of the finest colonial-era architecture in the country.

History

Historically, the city had a thriving Indigenous population. In 1524, the town was renamed Granada, 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, Nicaragua, was historically the sister capital in Central America to Antigua, Guatemala. During the colonial period, the city maintained a flourishing level of commerce with ports on the Atlantic Ocean, through Lake Nicaragua (a.k.a. Cocibolca) and the San Juan River.

The city has been witness and victim to many battles with and invasions from English, French, and Dutch pirates trying to take control of the region by sailing up the San Juan River.

Granada was also where William Walker, the American filibuster, took up residence and attempted to take control of Central America as a ruling president.

Walker usurped the presidency of Nicaragua in 1856, making Granada the center of his attacks and headquarters. He sacked and burned the city in 1857 when and where a coalition of Central American armies ultimately defeated him.

For many years Granada was a political and trade rival with León, competing to be the dominant power center of the country. The Conservatives favored the city of Granada, while the Liberals favored Léon. As a result, there was a conflict that sometimes became quite violent for many years between the cities' families and political factions.

In the mid-19th century, a compromised site was agreed on, and the capital was finally established at Managua, located between both cities. As of 1850, Granada had a population of approximately 10,000.

Colonial Heritage

Most of Granada's streets are narrow, as the city evolved centuries before the advent of motorized vehicles. It is typically Spanish in appearance and is laid out in a rectangular grid. Among its houses are many fine mansions. The city's churches are massive, and some are ornate.

Following many years of neglect, primarily due to the nation's economic collapse in the 1980s, most of the city's buildings and infrastructure began to deteriorate. Roads and public utilities fell into disrepair.

In the following decades, however, the city government directed funds toward recognizing and restoring many of the city's historic structures. In addition, the Spanish government has provided financial cooperation for the refurbishment of the town.

In 2003, the government of Nicaragua submitted the city of Granada for consideration as a future UNESCO World Heritage Site with a mixed cultural and natural designation.

Some of the relevant historical and architectural attractions in the city are as follows: