Mombacho Volcano as seen from Independence Plaza in the Heart of Granada
Granada was founded in 1524 by Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, and is one of the oldest colonial cities in the continent. Located on the shores of Lake Cocibolca, also known as Lake Nicaragua, it has always been an important city and has become the brightest star of the country as a tourist destination. Its lovely Moorish architecture, the blessed geographic location and the hospitality of its people have made of it a must be visited city. Built in the typical Spanish colonial style, with a large central park with a cathedral on its eastern end, the city has square grid that is easy to get around in.
Granada is only 45 kilometres from Managua, making it a quick trip. Getting to Granada is quite easy and should take you under and hour, considering the traffic of getting through Managua. Most of the hotels in Granada can arrange for transfers from the August C Sandino International Airport in Managua. Alternatively, any taxi at the airport will take you there for a reasonable fee of approximately $40 US. Paxeos, a local tour operator transportation company offers shuttle service from Managua’s airport to Granada and back at very reasonable prices in air conditioned vehicles.
Although the city was founded almost 500 years ago, there are not very many buildings that are that old, the reason is that Granada was burnt down and ransacked many times in the past, several times by buccaneers that navigated from the Caribbean up the San Juan River, into Lake Nicaragua and across the lake to Granada. Despite the fact that Granada is very close to the Pacific Coast, historically it has actually functioned as a port with access to the Caribbean! American Filibuster William Walker also had the city destroyed before abandoning it when chased out of Nicaragua by the local troops.
During colonial and early republican days, Granada played an important role in Nicaragua’s history. Granada was the commercial hub that kept the province in touch with the Caribbean and with Spain, and was the center of liberal thinkers in the country. This usually caused ideological friction with the nearby city of Leon, whose leaders were much more conservative, officially the capital of the province and headquarters of the Spanish colonial authority. This rivalry had a long term effect that eventually sparked wars; setting of sporadic changes of the government seat between Leon and Granada that continued until an agreement was reached and the capital of Nicaragua was set in Managua, a city located about halfway between the rival cities.
Today Granada is the capital of the department of Granada, has a population of approximately 120,000 inhabitants and is very well interconnected with the rest of the country via a fine 4 lane highway to Managua as well as towards the southern Nicaragua border with Costa Rica.
Granada’s Lovely Cathedral
The Nicaraguan Government has made an effort to restore the city to its original splendour, and the down town area is truly a pleasure to see. The Cathedral is the most outstanding building in the city, overlooking Colon Park, and the Independence Plaza, both of which are adjacent and represent the very heart of the city. The Cathedral dates from 1880, and was built after William Walker had the old one bombed and burnt before leaving the city in 1856.
Granada is very much a walking city. If you are visiting it, park your car, and walk around the central park, the Independence Plaza and the lovely
The Historic Granada Railroad Station, a picture to days past…
La Calzada Boulevard. Also within walking distance is the Convent of San Francisco, the old railroad station, the Church of La Merced and the Malecon, or boardwalk on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. If you are not into walking, hire one of the horse drawn carriages that park on Central Park. These are an excellent alternative to walking and will allow you to enjoy the city.
To this day, Granada continues being a gateway to the Caribbean via Lake Nicaragua. The national port authority, has regularly scheduled ferry service departing twice weekly from Granada to the opposite side of the lake. The service, which makes several stops en route includes a stop in the island of Ometepe, and then in San Miguelito and San Carlos, the capital of the department of Rio San Juan and main port from where to start your exploration of the magnificent, mighty and historic Rio San Juan. There are also a couple of hydroplanes that are stationed here and that will be providing regular service to different nearby destinations.
As part of its colonial heritage, Granada boasts several lovely colonial churches, the most impressive of which is of course its cathedral.
The Church and Convent of San Francisco. Both have been restored and the Convent now functions as a museum.
Worth mentioning are the Church and Convent of San Francisco, located 100 meters North of Central Park. Originally built as a convent for the Franciscan friars, the building actually functioned as university in 1867 and 1868. Today the church and part of the convent have been restored and houses the historic and Archaeological Museum of Granada. A collection of pre-Columbian statues can be admired here, as well as historic information of Granada.
The Lovely Colonial Church of Las Mercedes, one of the colonial gems in Granada.
The Church of Las Mercedes is another lovely, old colonial building in Granada. Located 200 meters West of Central Park. The building was concluded in 1783 and has a lovely baroque façade. For a fee, you can climb up to the top of the belfry and enjoy one of the most magnificent views of the city, with the lake towards the east and the impressive Mombacho volcano to the Southeast.
The church of Jalteva was built on the site of an old indigenous town, which today is part of the city of Granada. It is located 400 meters West of Central park and was rebuilt several times over the years; its current façade dates back to1895. Also of interest is the park of Jalteva that is adjacent to the church.
The Church of Guadalupe, located about 700 meters East of Central Park down the main street or Calzada in the direction of the great Lake Nicaragua or Cocibolca. Because of its strategic location on the entrance to the city from the main port on the lake, it functioned as a fortress and church and has been destroyed and rebuilt many times over the years.
Although much more modern, another interesting building to visit is the old railroad station, located a few blocks from town. For a period of time in the early XXth Century, the railroad became the back bone of development in Nicaragua, however, after the Sandinista Revolution, in the 1980s, the National Railroad of Nicaragua was closed down and taken apart, sold for its weight in iron and steel and with it an important part of Nicaragua’s history was lost for good. Sadly, the Granada railroad station, an old steam locomotive and few railroad cars are pretty much all that is left of this era.
The Archaeological Museum at the ex Convent of San Francisco, is open daily for visits and there is a $2.00 US dollar entrance fee for persons (Nicaraguan citizens have a preferential fee and pay less). The operating hours of the museum are the following: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 9:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. There is also a small ceramic museum located at the entrance to the downtown area in Granada on the Calle Atravezada. The Museum, officially called Mi Museo offers a nice collection of pre Colombian ceramics in a restored old colonial building. This Museum is open daily from 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. and there is no admission fee. Finally, there is a third “museum”. Located almost next to Mi Museo. This is the Chocolate Museum, or Museo del Chocolate. This in not really a Museum, it is a pleasant coffee shop specializing in chocolate beverages and with some visual displays explaining the origins of cacao and how it is transformed into chocolate. They have chocolate and coffee products for sale here and it is an interesting stop to learn about the historic importance of cacao in pre-Columbian times. Cacao is native to Nicaragua and there are several small private enterprises that are producing good quality organic chocolate that could be a good gift to take back home for your loved ones!
Another learning experience can be had by visiting the Mombacho Cigar factory. It is located right on La Calzada Boulevard. Nicaragua produces some of the finest cigars in the world, with quality that easily competes with the famed Cuban cigars. Mombacho Cigars have been givin excellent reviews by the cigar aficionados over the years and are mostly sold abroad, the only outlet they have in Nicaragua is right here, in Granada. The tobacco farms, ovens and factories are located around Granada! The facility is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. till 7:30 p.m. Here you can learn about the process of producing a high quality cigar, from the planting and growing of the tobacco bush, the picking of the leaves and process of drying the leaf to perfection. Then you can learn about rolling a cigar, and how they must be aged to achieve perfection. Tours of the facility are available.
Last, but not least, Intur, the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism has an information office in Granada, located on the opposite corner of San Francisco Church. Here, you can get good information regarding Granada, as well as its surroundings and for that matter, they will assist you with tourist information for all of Nicaragua.