Managua is the capital city of
NicaraguaNicaragua officially the Republic of Nicaragua , is a representative democratic republic. It is the largest country in Central America with an area of 130,373 km
2. The country is bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The Pacific Ocean lies to the west of...
as well as the
departmentManagua is a department in Nicaragua. It covers an area of 3,672 km² and has a population of 1,380,300 . The capital is the city of Managua.- Municipalities :# Ciudad Sandino# El Crucero# Managua# Mateare# San Francisco Libre...
and municipality by the same name. It is also the largest city in Nicaragua. It is located on the southwestern shore of
Lake ManaguaLake Managua is a lake in Nicaragua. The Spanish name is Lago de Managua or Lago Xolotlán. At 1,042 km², it is approximately 65 kilometres long and 25 kilometres wide...
. The city was declared the national capital in 1852. Previously, the capital had alternated between the cities of
LeónLeón is the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. It was founded by the Spaniards as Santiago de los Caballeros de León and rivals Granada, Nicaragua, in the number of historic Spanish colonial homes and churches...
and
GranadaGranada, with an estimated population of 110,326 , is Nicaragua's fourth most populous city and capital of the Granada Department. Granada is historically one of Nicaragua's most important cities both economically and politically...
. The city has a population of about 1,680,100; composed predominantly of
mestizoMestizo is a Spanish and Portuguese term that was used in the Spanish Empire and Portuguese Empire to refer to Latin people of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry in the Americas....
s and
whitesWhite Latin Americans are the white population of Latin America. They are the descendants of 15th–to–19th century colonial-era settlers and of post-independence immigrants. Original settlers were mostly Spanish and Portuguese, but post-independence immigrants were more diverse, among them many...
.
Founded in 1819 and given the name of
Leal Villa de Santiago de Managua, its original purpose was to serve as a rural fishing village. Efforts to make Managua the capital of Nicaragua began in 1824, after the Central American nations became independent from
SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.
[The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though España , Estado español and Nación española are used interchangeably...]
. Managua's location between the rival cities of León and Granada made it an ideal compromise site.
The city has been witness to the rise and fall of political powers throughout Nicaragua's history and has suffered two devastating earthquakes over the course of the 20th century. Managua is the economic, political, cultural,
commercialCommerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer. It comprises the trading of something of economic value such as goods, services, information, or money between two or more entities...
and
industrialAn industry is the manufacturing of a good or service within a category. Although industry is a broad term for any kind of economic production, in economics and urban planning industry is a synonym for the secondary sector, which is a type of economic activity involved in the manufacturing of raw...
center of Nicaragua.
In 2007, after a successful literacy campaign, Managua was declared the first capital city in Central America to be rid of illiteracy.
Etymology
The name Managua originates from
Mana-ahuac, which in the indigenous Nahuatl language translates to "adjacent to the water" or site "surrounded by water". The city stands today on an area historically inhabited by
Indigenous peopleThe indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Americas, their descendants, and many ethnic groups who identify with those peoples...
centuries before the
SpanishSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.
[The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though España , Estado español and Nación española are used interchangeably...]
conquest of Central America in the 16th century.
History
Nicaragua was inhabited by Paleo-Indians as far back as 6,000 years ago. This is confirmed by the
ancient footprints of AcahualincaThe Ancient footprints of Acahualinca exist in Managua, Nicaragua near the southern shore of Lake Managua . The region was once called "El Cauce"...
found along the shores of
Lake ManaguaLake Managua is a lake in Nicaragua. The Spanish name is Lago de Managua or Lago Xolotlán. At 1,042 km², it is approximately 65 kilometres long and 25 kilometres wide...
, along with other archaeological evidence, mainly in the form of ceramics and statues made of volcanic stone like the ones found on the island of
ZapateraZapatera is a shield volcano located in the southern part of Nicaragua. It forms the island of Isla Zapatera on the Lake Nicaragua. Isla Zapatera constitutes one of 78 protected areas of Nicaragua....
and petroglyphs found in
OmetepeOmetepe is an island formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. Its name derives from the Nahuatl words ome and tepetl , meaning two mountains....
island.
It was not until 1857, after Granada was destroyed by a U.S. mercenary army led by
William WalkerWilliam Walker was an American filibuster or pirate who attempted to conquer several Latin American countries in the mid-19th century. He appointed himself President of the Republic of Nicaragua in 1856 and ruled from that year to 1857...
, that the capital was firmly established in Managua. Between 1852 and 1930 Managua underwent extensive urbanization; becoming a base of governance, infrastructure and services. The city was hampered by major floods in 1876 and 1885 and a
disastrous earthquake in 1931The 1931 Nicaragua earthquake devastated Managua, Nicaragua on 31 March 1931. It had a magnitude of 6.0, and killed 2000 people....
, which destroyed much of the city. Under the rule of dictator
Anastasio Somoza GarcíaAnastasio Somoza García was officially the 65th and 69th President of Nicaragua from 1 January 1937 to 1 May 1947 and from 21 May 1950 to 29 September 1956, but ruled effectively as dictator from 1936 until his assassination.-Biography:Somoza was born in San Marcos, Carazo Department in...
and his family (1936–1979), it began to grow rapidly. New government buildings were erected, industry developed, and universities were established; Managua had become Central America's most developed city. Yet, the city suffered a
second major earthquakeThe 1972 Nicaragua earthquake was an earthquake that occurred at 12:29 a.m. local time on Saturday, December 23, 1972 in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. With a magnitude of 6.2, it occurred at a depth of about 5 kilometers beneath the center of the city. Within an hour after the main shock,...
on December 23, 1972, which destroyed 90% of the city and killed over 19,120 people. The city was cleared, however it never returned to its former glory. The earthquake caused many of Managua's residents to find refuge in the outskirts of the city. Thus, downtown remained vacant for almost 20 years due to corruption within the Somoza regime that allocated part of the funds for reconstruction. Also, the civil war of 1979 to overthrow the Somoza regime and the 11-year long Contra War of the 80's totally devastated the city's economy. To make matters worse, a series of natural disasters like hurricane Mitch in 1998, made economic recovery even harder. Fortunately though, after winning the free elections of 1990, the democratic opposition began the reconstruction of Managua in earnest. Even though there's still much to go, downtown has been partially rebuilt and new governmental buildings, galleries, museums, apartment buildings, squares, promenades, monuments, boat tours on Xolotlan Lake, restaurants, night entertainment, and new broad avenues have resurrected part of Managua's downtown former vitality.
Geography
Managua is located on the southern shores of
Lake ManaguaLake Managua is a lake in Nicaragua. The Spanish name is Lago de Managua or Lago Xolotlán. At 1,042 km², it is approximately 65 kilometres long and 25 kilometres wide...
(also known as Lake Xolotlán). Lake Managua contains the same fish species as Lake Cocibolca, except for the freshwater sharks found exclusively in the latter. Once a Managuan scenic highlight, the lake has been polluted from the dumping of chemical and waste water since 1927. A waste water treatment plant funded by the
GermanGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
government to decontaminate the lake is expected to be the largest in
Central AmericaManagua
Guatemala City
San Salvador
San Pedro Sula
Panama City
San José, Costa Rica
Santa Ana, El Salvador
León
San Miguel|-|}...
and was inaugurated in 2009.
Managua extends about 544 km along Lake Managua at an altitude of 55 metres (165 ft) above sea level, gaining altitude toward the Sierras de Managua where it is over 970 metres (2910 ft) above sea level.
Lagoons within city limits
Managua features four smaller
lagoonA lagoon is a body of comparatively shallow salt or brackish water separated from the deeper sea by a shallow or exposed sandbank, coral reef, or similar feature. Thus, the enclosed body of water behind a barrier reef or barrier islands or enclosed by an atoll reef is called a lagoon. This...
s in the city limits. The most centrally located is the Tiscapa Lagoon in the
Tiscapa Lagoon Natural ReserveTiscapa Lagoon Natural Reserve is a lagoon of volcanic origin that formed over 10,000 years ago. It is located in the capital city of Managua in Nicaragua. Tiscapa Lagoon was declared a protected area as a natural reserve on October 31, 1991...
.
- The Laguna de Tiscapa (Tiscapa Lagoon) is south of the old downtown. Tiscapa Lagoon is of volcanic origin and was formed approximately 10,000 years ago.
- Asososca lagoon, to the west, is Managua's most important source of drinking water. Asososca is at the beginning of Carretera al Sur (Southern Highway), close to the connection with the Carretera Nueva a León (New Highway Via León).
- Nejapa lagoon, south of the Asososca lagoon, is also along the Southern Highway.
- The fourth is Acahualinca lagoon, which is located to the northwest. This lagoon, which gives its name to a nearby district to the east, is located on the shores of Lake Managua. This lagoon is mostly noted for having shallow waters.
Climate
Managua, like much of Western Nicaragua except for the Sierras, has a
tropical climateA tropical climate is a kind of climate typical in the tropics. Köppen's widely-recognized scheme of climate classification defines it as a non-arid climate in which all twelve months have mean temperatures above .- Examples of tropical climates :...
with constant temperatures averaging between 28 and 32 degrees
CelsiusCelsius is a temperature scale that is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius , who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death...
(82 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit). The months of December and January are chilly; March and April are humid and somewhat arid.
Maps
The
OpenstreetmapOpenStreetMap is a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world.The maps are created using data from portable GPS devices, aerial photography, other free sources or simply from local knowledge...
project has partially mapped Managua
here
Flora
Managua, due to its tropical climate, varied topography, naturally fertile soils, and abundant rain and water sources, boasts a great variety of
floraIn botany, flora has two meanings. The first meaning, flora of an area or of time period, refers to all plant life occurring in an area or time period, especially the naturally occurring or indigenous plant life...
. Therefore, many different types of trees (some of them not found in the rest of the world, such as chilamates, ceibos, pochotes, genizaros, tiguilotes, royal palms, pinuelas and the madroño, which is Nicaragua's
national treeNational symbols of Nicaragua are the symbols that are used in Nicaragua and abroad to represent the country and its people.-Flag:The Flag of Nicaragua was adopted in 1971 and is based on the former flag of the United States of Central America. The colors of the Nicaraguan flag originate from the...
) surround the city. During the rainy season (May to November), Managua becomes a lavish city due to many palms, bushes, and other
plantPlants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. They include familiar organisms such as trees, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The scientific study of plants, known as botany, has identified about 350,000 extant species of plants, defined as seed plants,...
s and
treeA tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s which dominate much of the city’s image.
Education
Managua is the national education center, with most of universities and higher education institutions based there. Nicaragua's higher education consists of 48 universities and 113
collegeCollege is a term most often used today to denote degree awarding tertiary educational institution. More broadly, it can be the name of any group of colleagues, for example, an electoral college, a College of Arms or the College of Cardinals...
s and technical institutes which serve student in the areas of
electronicsElectronics is a branch of science and technology that deals with the controlled flow of electrons. The ability to control electron flow is usually applied to information handling or device control. Electronics is distinct from electrical science and technology, which deals with the generation,...
, computer systems and
scienceComputer science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation, and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems. It is frequently described as the systematic study of algorithmic processes that create, describe and transform...
s,
agroforestryAgroforestry is an integrated approach of using the interactive benefits from combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock.It combines agricultural and forestry technologies to create more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable land-use systems.-Definitions:"Agroforestry...
,
constructionIn the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of multitasking...
and
tradeTrade is the voluntary exchange of goods, services, or both. Trade is also called commerce or transaction. A mechanism that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and services. Later one side of the barter were the metals, precious...
-related services. The educational system includes 1 U.S. accredited English-language university, 3
Bilingual university programBilingual education involves teaching most subjects in school through two different languages - in the United States, instruction occurs in English and languages such as Spanish or Chinese, with varying amounts of each language used in accordance with the program model. The following are several...
s, 5 Bilingual secondary schools and dozens of
English Language InstituteThe purpose of an English Language Institute, or ELI, is to teach English as a second language to students from around the world. These institutes are often included in the college of education at American universities. Quality and methods vary a lot from one institute to the other, although some...
s. In 2005, almost 400,000 (7%) of Nicaraguans held a university degree. 18% of Nicaragua's total budget is invested in primary, secondary and higher education. University level institutions account for 6% of 18%.
Colleges and universities
National Autonomous University of Nicaragua
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN) (National Autonomous University of Nicaragua) is the principal state-funded public university of Nicaragua. UNAN was established in 1812 and its main campus is located in Managua. The original campus, UNAN-Leon, is located in
LeónLeón is the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. It was founded by the Spaniards as Santiago de los Caballeros de León and rivals Granada, Nicaragua, in the number of historic Spanish colonial homes and churches...
and is now secondary, mainly used for medicine majors.
Polytechnic University of Nicaragua
Universidad Politecnica de NicaraguaThe Polytechnic University of Nicaragua is a university located in Managua, Nicaragua. It was founded in 1967.-Organization:These are the 6 schools in which the university is divided into:* School of Administration, Commerce and Finance...
(UPOLI) (
Polytechnic University of Nicaragua) is a university located in Managua, Nicaragua. It was founded in 1967. The university is divided into 6 schools: School of Administration,
CommerceCommerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer. It comprises the trading of something of economic value such as goods, services, information, or money between two or more entities...
and
FinanceFinance is the science of funds management. The general areas of finance are business finance, personal finance, and public finance. Finance includes saving money and often includes lending money. The field of finance deals with the concepts of time, money and risk and how they are interrelated...
, School of
LawLaw is a system of rules, usually enforced through a set of institutions. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a primary social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus ticket to trading on derivatives markets...
, School of
DesignDesign is the planning that lays the basis for the making of every object or system. It can be used both as a noun and as a verb and, in a broader way, it means applied arts and engineering . As a verb, "to design" refers to the process of originating and developing a plan for a product,...
, School of
NursingNursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from birth to the end of life....
, School of
EngineeringEngineering is the discipline, art and profession of acquiring and applying technical, scientific and mathematical knowledge to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes that safely realize a desired objective or inventions.The American Engineers' Council...
,
MusicMusic is an art form whose medium is sound. Common elements of music are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
Conservatory.
Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de Empresas
Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de EmpresasInstituto Centroamericano de Administración de Empresas INCAE is a business school. It has 2 locations, the Francisco de Sola campus in Nicaragua and the Walter Kissling Gam campus in Costa Rica.-INCAE Business School:...
(INCAE) (Central American Institute of Business Administration) is a private
business schoolA business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration. It teaches topics such as accounting, administration, finance, information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, public relations, strategy, human resource management, and quantitative...
. INCAE was founded in 1964 with the support of the United States government and other Central American countries. The institution has a close affiliation with
Harvard UniversityHarvard University is a private university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1636 by the colonial Massachusetts legislature, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and currently comprises ten separate academic units...
, as it had played a part in its foundation. The Francisco de Sola
campusA campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
in Managua, Nicaragua was the first to be established (1964), the Walter Kissling Gam
campusA campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
in
AlajuelaAlajuela is the capital city of the province of Alajuela in Costa Rica. It is also the name of the district that includes the city. Alajuela serves as the capital for the canton of Alajuela, an area much larger than the district. It is the birthplace of Juan Santamaría, the national hero of Costa...
, Costa Rica was the second established in 1984. The latter was made the main campus following the lack of government support during the 1980s; in fact the Managua campus was actually closed for most of this time, it then reopened in 1990 after democracy was restored in Nicaragua, however the main campus remained in Alajuela.
According to a study done by
América EconomíaAmérica Economía is a Latin American magazine founded in 1986 by Chilean Elías Selman and Swedish Nils Strandberg.The 1980s was considered the lost decade in Latin America but Selman and Strandberg decided to take risk and create the first Latin American business magazine.-Editorial offices:* São...
INCAE ranked as the number one
business schoolA business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration. It teaches topics such as accounting, administration, finance, information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, public relations, strategy, human resource management, and quantitative...
in Latin America in 2004 and 2005 and ranked in the top ten international business schools by
The Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street Journal is an English-language international daily newspaper published by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, in New York City, with Asian and European editions. As of 2007, it has a worldwide daily circulation of more than 2 million, with approximately 931,000...
in 2006.
Other universities
Economy
Managua is the economic center and a generator of services for the majority of the nation. Unlike many other Latin American countries, it does not suffer from massive migration of country peasants looking for work in the city, since many other cities of Nicaragua have well established economic industries. Nonetheless, as it is the only city with a population exceeding one million inhabitants, it houses many large national and international businesses. It is home to many factories which produce diverse products. Multinational companies such as
Wal-MartWal-Mart Stores, Inc. is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large, discount department stores. It is the world's largest public corporation by revenue, according to the 2008 Fortune Global 500. The company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962, incorporated on October 31, 1969, and...
,
TelefonicaTelefónica, S.A., is a Spanish telecommunication company. Operating globally, it is one of the largest fixed-line and mobile telecommunications companies in the world: 3rd in terms of number of clients only behind China Mobile and Vodafone, and in the top five in market value...
,
Union FenosaUnión Fenosa, S.A., is a large Spanish company dedicated to the production and distribution to end users of gas and electricity. It has installed capacity of 11,120 megawatts of power and 8.9 million customers. The headquarters are in Madrid and the chairman is Pedro López Jiménez...
, and
ParmalatParmalat SpA , is a multinational Italian dairy and food corporation. Having become the leading global company in the production of UHT milk, the company collapsed in 2003 with a 14bn euro hole in its accounts in what remains Europe's biggest bankruptcy...
have offices and operations in Managua.
Managua is also home to all of the major banks of the nation, Banco de la Produccion (BANPRO), Banco de America Central (BAC), Banco Uno, Banco de Finanzas (BDF), Banco de Crédito Centroamericano (BANCENTRO) and its parent company the LAFISE Group. Several new hotels including
Crowne PlazaCrowne Plaza, originally branded as "Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza", is a chain of full service, upscale hotels catering to business travelers and to the meetings and conventions market. The brand is owned by the InterContinental Hotels Group...
,
Best WesternBest Western International, Inc. claims to be the world's largest hotel chain, with over 4,000 hotels in nearly 80 countries. The Phoenix-based chain operates more than 2,000 hotels in North America alone. Best Western has a marketing program involving placement of free Wi-Fi access hotspots in its...
,
InterContinentalInterContinental is a brand of upscale luxury hotels, founded by Pan Am, under Juan Trippe, and now owned by InterContinental Hotels Group. The chain operates over 200 hotels and resorts in approximately 75 nations....
,
Holiday InnHoliday Inn is a brand of hotels within the InterContinental Hotels Group .-History:The original Holiday Inn chain of hotels was created in 1952 in Memphis, Tennessee, by homebuilder Kemmons Wilson to provide inexpensive family accommodation for travelers within the United States...
, and
HiltonHilton Hotels is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by the Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels are either owned, managed, or franchised to independent operators by the Hilton Hotels Corporation. there are 533 Hilton branded hotels across...
currently have facilities in Managua. As well as many hotels, Managua has opened four western style shopping centers or malls, such as Plaza Inter, Centro Comercial Metrocentro, Galerias Santo Domingo, and Multicentro Las Americas , with many more being constructed.
There is a huge established local market system that caters to the majority of the Nicaraguan population. The Mercado Roberto Huembes, Mercado Oriental, Mercado Israel Lewites and other locations are where one can find anything from household amenities, food, clothing and electrical and other contracting supplies. Many of the backpacking, ecotourism types and tourists on a budget use these markets for their supplies. Although one needs to use caution regarding wallets and personal items (as with many public markets around the world) the markets can be the source of high quality and unique items. Tourists looking for an authentic experience should consider these destinations as there is always something interesting to eat and local customs to be experienced.
Managua is also currently experiencing an upsurge in
real estateReal estate is a legal term that encompasses land along with anything permanently affixed to the land, such as buildings, specifically property that is fixed in location.
"Real estate" The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin...
prices and as well as a housing shortage. Foreigners, mainly from North America and Europe, are becoming interested in considering post-
retirementRetirement is the point where a person stops employment completely . A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours...
life in Nicaragua. The capital is also a need for modern office space in downtown Managua as the economy of Managua continues to grow. Economists predict that its demand for commercial real estate will increase. New office buildings are currently being constructed along the Carretera Masaya and in Villa Fontana. The most recent inauguration being the Edificio Invercasa.
Plaza de la Revolución
Plaza de la Revolución (Plaza of the Revolution), which was formerly known as Plaza de la República (Plaza of the Republic) is home to Managua's Historical Center. Managua's Center was destroyed by the 1972 earthquake. Managua, to date, has not rebuilt its center. The now Historical Center is located near the Lago de Managua and many building are partially intact, however, some are now abandoned. Some of the more important buildings which managed to survive include the Catedral de Santiago (Old Cathedral), the Rubén Dario National Theater, and the National Palace of Culture. Within the Plaza of the Revolution is the Parque Central (Central Park) which contains many historical monuments, many dedicated to inspirational people, national heroes and poets. Some of these include the Tomb of Comandante
Carlos FonsecaFor the Brazilian boxer with the same name see Carlos Fonseca Carlos Fonseca Amador was a Nicaraguan teacher and a founder of the Sandinista National Liberation Front...
, founder of the FSLN, which is guarded by an
eternal flameAn eternal flame is a flame or torch that burns constantly. The flame that burned constantly at Delphi was an archaic feature, "alien to the ordinary Greek temple"....
. Near Central Park is the
Rubén DaríoFélix Rubéen García Sarmiento also known as Rubén Darío was a Nicaraguan poet who initiated Spanish-American literary movement known as Modernismo , flourishing at the end of the 19th century. Dario has had the greatest and most lasting influence into twentieth century Spanish literature, and...
park, dedicated to Nicaragua's national poet. There is also a park dedicated to the Guatemalan writer
Miguel Ángel AsturiasMiguel Ángel Asturias Rosales was a Nobel Prize–winning Guatemalan poet, novelist, and diplomat. Asturias helped establish Latin American literature's contribution to mainstream Western culture, and at the same time drew attention to the importance of indigenous cultures, especially those of his...
. Monuments include the monument of El Guerrillero sin Nombre (The Nameless Guerrilla Soldier) and Monumento à la Paz (Monument for Peace).
Old Cathedral of Managua
The old Catedral de Santiago (St James Cathedral) in Managua was designed and shipped from
BelgiumThe Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO...
in 1920 by Belgian architect residing in Managua Pablo Dambach who got the inspiration from St Sulspice in Paris.. Santiago became the first cathedral in the Western Hemisphere to be build entirely of concrete on a metal frame. Therefore, Santiago survived the 1931 earthquake, but was extremely damaged during the one in 1972, which led to the construction of a new Catedral de la Concepcion (Cathedral of the Conception), to the southeast, which became the newest constructed Roman Catholic cathedral in the world. Fortunately, in recent years, the restoration of the old cathedral of Santiago has appeared to be possible and is currently awaiting renovation.
Rubén Dario National Theater
The Rubén Dario National Theater is Nicaragua's most important theater, and is one of the most modern theaters in
Central AmericaManagua
Guatemala City
San Salvador
San Pedro Sula
Panama City
San José, Costa Rica
Santa Ana, El Salvador
León
San Miguel|-|}...
. Both national and international artists present shows, concerts, exhibitions, and cultural performances such as
El GüegüenseEl Güegüense is a satirical drama and was the first literary work of post-Columbian Nicaragua. It is regarded as one of Latin America's most distinctive colonial-era expressions and as Nicaragua's signature folkloric masterpiece combining music, dance and theater...
among many others. The National Theater is one of the few buildings that survived the 1972 earthquake that destroyed 90% of Managua.
National Palace of Culture
The National Palace (also National Palace of Culture) is one of the most impressive buildings in Nicaragua. It was commissioned by President
Juan Bautista SacasaJuan Bautista Sacasa Sacasa was the 63rd President of Nicaragua from 1 January 1933 to 9 June 1936. He was the eldest son of Roberto Sacasa, 44th and 46th President of Nicaragua, and wife and cousin Ángela Sacasa Cuadra...
in 1935 and built by architect Pablo Dambach, who also built Santiago's Cathedral. For more than 50 years, the National Palace housed the Congress, today it houses the
National ArchiveThe General National Archive is charged with conserving the documentary heritage of Nicaragua, standardizing the national archival system, and promoting research and access to information.-History:...
, the National Library, as well as the National Museum which is open to the public. The museum features
pre-ColumbianThe Pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic to European colonization during the...
paintings, statues, ceramics, etc. Also part of the exhibit is the hall of National History and the hall of National Symbols. The National Palace was one of the few building that survived the 1972 earthquake. An interesting resident here is Santiago's Cathedral old tower clock, damaged during the Contra War of the 80's, later removed during renovations to the cathedral in late 96, stored in the basement, and finally forgotten until 2004!
Tiscapa Lagoon (Natural Reserve)
The Tiscapa Lagoon, located inside the
Tiscapa Lagoon Natural ReserveTiscapa Lagoon Natural Reserve is a lagoon of volcanic origin that formed over 10,000 years ago. It is located in the capital city of Managua in Nicaragua. Tiscapa Lagoon was declared a protected area as a natural reserve on October 31, 1991...
is just south of the Managua's Historical Center. Leading up to the Lagoon is Calle del Comercio (Roosevelt Ave) to the beautifully set Monumento al Liberalismo, built in the late 30's by the Liberal party in honor to President Anastasio Somoza-Garcia. Another interesting sight is the Monument to Sandino which is a silhouette of General Augusto C. Sandino _one of Nicaragua's national heroes_ that stands 59 feet tall. The monument was proposed by priest-writer-poet
Ernesto CardenalReverend Father Ernesto Cardenal Martínez is a Nicaraguan Catholic priest and was one of the most famous liberation theologians of the Nicaraguan Sandinistas, a party he has since left. From 1979 to 1987 he served as Nicaragua's first culture minister. He is also famous as a poet, and he still...
and is protected by the
Nicaraguan military-National Guard 1927-1979:The long years of strife between the liberal and conservative political factions and the existence of private armies led the United States to sponsor the National Guard as an apolitical institution to assume all military and police functions in Nicaragua...
. The Sandino monument was constructed on top of the wreckage of the old Mozarab style Presidential palace commissioned by President Sacasa in the late 20's but long used by the Somoza Family as their personal residence. Also on the crater lip of Tiscapa are the Mazmorras (dungeons), a prison where current President
Daniel OrtegaJosé Daniel Ortega Saavedra is the current President of Nicaragua, having served since 10 January 2007. He previously served as the 79th President, between 10 January 1985 and 25 April 1990...
and many other political prisoners were tortured during the Somoza regime; however, this site is closed to the public.
The reserve is located within city limits of the capital, Managua, and is a popular tourist attraction. Restaurants and stores line the walls of the lagoon. Canopy rides provide a panoramic view of the old downtown where only a few buildings survived the 1972 earthquake that destroyed 90% of the capital city.. However, encouraged by the country's improved economy, Managua's downtown began reconstruction since the mid 90's. Thus, many new governmental buildings, apartment complexes, shopping malls, green squares, leafy promenades, lake tours, fancy restaurants, night entertainment, broadened avenues, big monuments, and refreshing fountains, have sprung up, awakening this almost 2 000 000 metropolis's heart after a long subreal dream since 1972. Also, many pre-Columbian artifacts have been found in and around Tiscapa, adding to Managua's pre-Columbian legacy.
Dr. Roberto Incer Barquero Library
The Dr. Roberto Incer Barquero Library, located in Managua, is designated to promote
Nicaraguan cultureNicaraguan culture has several distinct strands. The west of the country was colonized by Spain and has a similar culture to other Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. The eastern half of the country, on the other hand, was once a British protectorate and their culture is similar to that of...
. The library has 67,000 books, free internet, a newspaper archive where users can borrow newspapers and magazines, and economical information of the Central Bank. Furthermore, the library offers a gallery in the same building, where famous Nicaraguan paintings, as well as pieces from new promising artists, are exhibited. In the numismatic hall there is a permanent exhibition of Nicaraguan coins, bills, and memorial medals from throughout Nicaragua's history.
Museum of Acahualinca
Managua is also home to the Museum of Acahualinca where the
Ancient footprints of AcahualincaThe Ancient footprints of Acahualinca exist in Managua, Nicaragua near the southern shore of Lake Managua . The region was once called "El Cauce"...
, fossilized Paleo-Indian footprints made some 6,000 years ago, are engraved in volcanic ash. The museum "Museo Sitio Huellas de Acahualinca" is located in west Managua in the Acahualinca neighborhood. In addition to the footprints, the museum also displays artifacts found in other localities around the country. Artifacts such as
mammothA mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus. These proboscideans are members of Elephantidae, the family of elephants and mammoths, and close relatives of modern elephants. They were often equipped with long curved tusks and, in northern species, a covering of long hair. They lived from...
footprints, pre-Columbian tools, a skull from
León ViejoLeón is the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. It was founded by the Spaniards as Santiago de los Caballeros de León and rivals Granada, Nicaragua, in the number of historic Spanish colonial homes and churches...
,
and a small collection of pottery among other archaeological objects.
Dennis Martínez National Stadium
The Dennis Martínez National Stadium was built in 1948 and was the largest stadium in Central America at the end of its construction, it survived the 1972 earthquake. The stadium was named in honor of Nicaragua first baseball player to play in
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
, it serves as a venue for baseball and football (soccer) games, as well as concerts and religious events. The Dennis Martínez National Stadium has a capacity for 40,000 making it the largest stadium in Nicaragua.
Catedral de la Concepcion
The Catedral de la Purisima Concepcion (
Cathedral of the Immaculate ConceptionCathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a shared name of many cathedrals of the Roman Catholic Church, especially in the United States. They are all named after the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of The Immaculate Conception....
), more commonly referred to as Nueva Catedral (New Cathedral), was designed by architect
Ricardo LegorretaRicardo Legorreta Vilchis is a Mexican architect. He was born in Mexico City on May 7, 1931. He studied architecture at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. He was awarded the prestigeous UIA Gold Medal in 1999....
and inaugurated in 1993. The New Cathedral was built to replace the Old Cathedral (Santiago's) downtown that had been damaged during the earthquake of 1972. At first, the New Cathedral created much controversy, particularly about its architectural style and finance but it has grown in the hearts of Managuans not only for its uniqueness but also for it is the newest Roman Catholic cathedral in the world.
Culture
Managua is Nicaragua's
cultural capitalThe term Cultural capital refers to non-financial assets that involve educational, social, and intellectual knowledge provided to children who grow up in non-wealthy but highly-educated and intellectually-sophisticated families...
, boasting several restaurants, theaters, museums, and a few
shoppingShopping is the examining of goods or services from retailers with the intent to purchase at that time. Shopping is an activity of selection and/or purchase. In some contexts it is considered a leisure activity as well as an economic one....
centers. The city is also home to many communities of immigrants and ex-pats from but not limited to:
TaiwanTaiwan , also known as Formosa , is the largest island of the Republic of China in East Asia. Taiwan is located east of the Taiwan Strait, off the southeastern coast of mainland China...
,
ChinaChina is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
,
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
, the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
,
PalestinePalestine is a conventional name used, among others, to describe a geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands.As a geographical term, Palestine can also refer to 'ancient Palestine,' an area...
, and
Latin AmericaLatin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish, Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,501 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n countries.
Managua is home to the annual
Miss NicaraguaThe Miss Nicaragua contest is the national beauty pageant of Nicaragua and is a franchise of SILUHETAS, a modeling agency. Each Nicaraguan department may choose a representative who then enters the Miss Nicaragua finals, traditionally held at the Rubén Darío National Theater. The winner is crowned...
pageant; it is the national beauty pageant of Nicaragua. The pageant is traditionally held at the Rubén Darío National Theater and has been held since 1955. The Miss Nicaragua pageant is responsible for selecting the country's representatives to the
Miss UniverseMiss Universe is an annual international beauty contest run by the Miss Universe Organization.The contest was founded in 1952 by California clothing company Pacific Mills...
,
Miss WorldThe Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's wife, Julia Morley, co-chairs the pageant.....
, and
Miss InternationalMiss International is the fourth largest beauty pageant in the world. It was created in Long Beach, California, USA in 1960 after the departure of the Miss Universe pageant to Miami Beach. Hosted in Long Beach until 1967, the pageant moved to Japan from 1968–1970, being hosted each year in the...
pageants (amongst others).
Gastronomy
Due to the influence of immigrants and tourists it is frequent to find food specialties of the diverse regions of Nicaragua jointly with international ones. The most common subsistence foods include rice, plantain, beans, varieties of cabbage and cheeses. There exists a local tradition of cheese making and it is not unusual to encounter fried cheese as a side dish with many of the most popular dishes such as fried plantain medallions and "Gallopinto", a regional traditional rice and bean dish. Managua enjoys an array of international cuisine including a some Italian and Spanish restaurants as well as French. Traces of traditional German cuisine can also be found in Selva Negra, an estate near the city of Matagalpa which is a prominent tourist attraction, as well as in the city of Granada. Many Asian restaurants (South Korean, Chinese, and Taiwanese) can be found in the area of the capital and other major cities.
The capital is also conspiculously dotted with many American restaurant chains such as Pizza Hut, McDonalds,Dominos Pizza, Papa John's, and Subway which have sprung up within the last two decades. Local and regional fast food chains exist as well, for example Tip-top, RostiPollo, and Pollo Campero.
A strong tradition of preparing local sweets such as "Cajeta de leche", a sweet condensenced milk as well as sugared coconut and nuts can be found. Some local varieties of chocolate can be found as well, usually prepared with pepper and other spices or nuts. A popular 'fast food' known as "quesillo" is popular throughout the country. Quesillo consits of locally produced chese wrapped in a corn tortilla with cream, onions, and salt. Nacatamales, the Nicaragun version of the tamal, is a local delicacy. Many fruits such as Mangos, "jocotes", and "mamones" are a common snack. Mangoes and jocotes are often consumend while still unripe with salt and vinegar.
Steak preparation is one of the strong points of the local cuisine. It is often accompanied by a special sauce known as
ChimichurriChimichurri or Chimmichurri is a kind of green sauce, though there is red version as well, also used as a marinade, for grilled meat. It is originally from Argentina and Uruguay but is now used in countries as far north as Mexico.-Etymology:...
, composed of oil, garlic and herbs. There are many prominent steak restaurants throughout the country among them "Los Ranchos". including, but not limited to,
ArgentineThe cuisine of Argentina is distinctive in South America because of its strong resemblance to Spanish, Italian, French and other European cuisines rather than the other Latin American cuisines....
,
BrazilianThe cuisine of Brazil, like Brazil itself, varies greatly by region. This diversity reflects the country's mix of native Amerindians, Portuguese, Africans, Italians, Spaniards, Germans, Poles, Syrians, Lebanese and Japanese among others which has created a national cooking style marked by the...
, Chinese, French, German, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, and Spanish restaurants, as well as
NicaraguanThe Cuisine of Nicaragua is as diverse as its inhabitants. It is a mixture of indigenous and Spanish/Creole food. When the Spaniards first arrived in Nicaragua they found that the Creole people present had incorporated foods available in the area into their cuisine...
. These are accompanied by many U.S.
fast foodFast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with low quality preparation and served to the customer in a packaged form...
chains, as well as national fast food chains such as
Tip-TopTip-Top is a national chain of restaurants in Nicaragua, predominantly selling chicken. It is headquartered in the country's capital city of Managua and is a franchise of Tip Top Industry.-History:...
and Rosti-Pollo. A new culinary school and restaurant called Culinario Santa Lucia offers fun courses in international and local cuisines.
Festivals
Managua's most famous festival is that of its patron saint
Santo Domingo de GuzmánSaint Dominic , also known as Dominic of Osma, often called Dominic de Guzmán and Domingo de Guzmán Garcés was the founder of the Friars Preachers, popularly called the Dominicans or Order of Preachers , a Catholic religious order...
. It starts on the morning of August the 1st, when the "Bajada del Santo" (walk down of the saint) involves many joyful people walking and carrying the old statue of Santo Domingo from Las Sierritas Church in south Managua, to another church across the city to the north, in the area destroyed by the 1972 earthquake. It remains here for ten days until the morning of August the 10th, when the "Subida del Santo" (walking up of the saint) returns the statue to Las Sierritas Church where it remains for the rest of the year. Thousands of people attend this event which involves dancing, eating and drinking around marching musical bands, mainly for traditions that date back to pre-colonial times, or to ask for personal miracles, make promises, or give thanks to the saint . During the parade many people dress up in typical costumes, masks and painted bodies. Among other participants are "carrosas" (art cars and trucks) from local business companies, horseriders coming from Nicaragua and other Central American neighbouring countries to show off their horses, skills, and horserider costumes.
Another newer festival has been taking place every year since 2003. The "Alegria por la Vida" (Happiness for Life)
CarnavalCarnaval may refer to:*Carnaval , a piano suite by Robert Schumann*Carnaval , a song from the Santana album Festival*Carnaval a ballet of the Ballets Russes*Carnaval *Carnaval *Carnival...
is celebrated in Managua at the beginning of the month of March. There's a different slogan or theme every year. This event is celebrated with
paradeA parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
s,
floatsA pontoon is a flat-bottomed boat or the floats used to support a structure on water. It may be simply constructed from closed cylinders such as pipes or barrels or fabricated as boxes from metal or concrete. These may be used to support a simple platform, creating a raft. A raft supporting a...
, live music, food and dancing as well as the march of the Carnival Queen.
Museums, libraries and cultural centers
The National library holds a great amount of volumes, and affords abundant bibliographic information for anyone interested in the discovery and independence of
NicaraguaNicaragua officially the Republic of Nicaragua , is a representative democratic republic. It is the largest country in Central America with an area of 130,373 km
2. The country is bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The Pacific Ocean lies to the west of...
. The National Palace of Culture has on show an interesting exhibition of Nicaraguan art from the periods previous to its independence. Also located inside the National Palace of Culture is the National Museum containing some highly interesting archaeological finds with some good examples of pre-Columbian pottery, statues, and other interesting finds. Managua is also home to an array of art galleries which feature pieces by both national and international artists.
Managua is home to many types of
museumA museum is a building or institution which houses a collection of artifacts.Museums collect and care for objects of scientific, artistic, or historical importance and make them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary...
s, some art museums include the Julio Cortazar Museum and the Archivo Fílmico de la Cinemateca Nacional.
Natural history museumThe Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
s include the Museo del Departamento de Malacología UCA, Museo Gemológico de la Concha y el Caracol, and Museo Paleontológico “El Hato”. The Santo Domingo de Guzmán Museum is an
anthropologyAnthropology is the study of human beings, everywhere and throughout time....
museum.
HistoryHistory is the study of the human past, with special attention to the written record. Scholars who write about history are called historians. It is a field of research which uses a narrative to examine and analyse the sequence of events, and it often attempts to investigate objectively the patterns...
museums include the Museo de la Revolución, Museo Casa Hacienda San Jacinto, Museo Histórico Municipal de Coritno, and Museo Parque Loma de Tiscapa.
Cultural centerCultural Center or Cultural Centre is an organization, building or complex that promotes culture and arts. Cultural centers can be neighborhood community arts organizations, private facilities, government-sponsored, or activist-run...
s in Managua include the Centro Cultural Nicaragüense Norteamericano (CCNN) (Nicaraguan-North American Culture Center), the Centro Cultural Chino Nicaragüense (
Chinese NicaraguanChinese Nicaraguans are Nicaraguans of Chinese ancestry who immigrated to or born in Nicaragua...
Culture Center), the
Alliançe Française de Managua (French Alliance of Managua), among others.
Entertainment
Managua features many
barsA bar is an establishment that serves drinks, especially alcoholic beverages such as beer, liquor, and cocktails, for consumption on the premises....
,
nightclubA nightclub is a drinking, dancing and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark. People who frequent nightclubs are known as clubbers...
s,
casinoA casino is a facility that houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships and other tourist attractions...
s, theaters and cinemas. Compared to western prices, alcoholic beverages, theatre visits and cinema tickets are relatively inexpensive. There are cinemas in all major shopping centers; screening both English- and Spanish-language films. Foreign embassies in Managua also sponsor
film festivalA film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. The films may be of recent date and, depending upon the focus of the individual festival, can include international releases as well as films produced by...
s.
Since the late 1990s and early 2000, many casinos and karaoke bars opened and have remained popular attractions for Nicaraguans and foreign visitors. They are open to anyone above 21 years old. However, there's been moral controversy about the negative effects of gambling in a country with so much poverty. Popular music includes the
Palo de MayoPalo de Mayo is a type of Afro-Caribbean dance with sensual movements that forms part of the culture of several communities in the RAAS region in Nicaragua, as well as Belize, and the Bay Islands of Honduras. It is also the name given to the month long May Day festival celebrated on the Caribbean...
,
MerengueMerengue is a type of music and dance from the Dominican Republic. It is popular in the Dominican Republic and all over Latin America. Its name is Spanish, taken from the Spanish name of the meringue, a dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar. It is unclear as to why this name became the...
, and
Latin popLatin pop generally refers to pop music that has what may be perceived a "Latin" influence. The definition of "Latin" varies, however. Linguistically, pop music sung in Spanish, or other languages derived from Latin, may be considered Latin pop...
among other Latin music genres, as well as
American popPop music is a music genre that developed from the mid-1950s as a softer alternative to rock 'n' roll and later to rock music. It has a focus on commercial recording, often orientated towards a youth market, usually through the medium of relatively short and simple love songs...
and
rockRock music is a genre of popular music that entered the mainstream in the 1960s. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country music and also drew on folk music, jazz and classical music....
. Salsa dancing is a national pastime. Managua boasts a vibrant night life. Nightclubs and bars are abound in Managua, particularly, in the popular areas called "Zona Hippos" behind the Hilton hotel near Metrocentro and "Zona Rosa". In these areas,
BachataBachata is a genre of music that originated in the countryside and the rural neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic. Its subjects are often romantic; especially prevalent are tales of heartbreak and sadness. In fact, the original term used to name the genre was amargue , until the rather ambiguous...
music has been gradually gaining popularity.
Aside from these activities, Managua has a wide selection to offer in luxurious
shopping mallA shopping mall, shopping centre or shopping center is a building or multiple buildings consisting of a complex of shops representing leading merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a convenient parking area – a modern,...
s,
boutiqueA boutique, from the French word for "shop," is a small shopping outlet, especially one that specializes in elite and fashionable items such as clothing and jewellery....
s and
department storeA department store is a retail establishment which specializes in satisfying a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
s as well as local
marketA market is any one of a variety of different systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby persons trade, and goods and services are exchanged, forming part of the economy. It is an arrangement that allows buyers and sellers to exchange things...
s. In the Mercado Roberto Huembes shoppers can find everything from furniture, national arts and crafts, to fruits and vegetables, and clothing. There are several shopping centers with department stores such as Eclipse, Carrión, and SIMAN that carry all major
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
n, American and European clothing and cosmetic brands for men and women. Pali, La Union, and La Colonia are conventional
supermarketA supermarket, also called a grocery store in some parts of North America, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
s, which are in several areas of the city and sell local and imported ingredients from all over the world.
Although promoting or practicing
homosexuality is illegalLesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in Nicaragua may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in Nicaragua, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal...
in Nicaragua, there is a modest gay social scene in Managua. As of March 2008, homosexuality is no longer illegal and no longer carries a prison sentence.
Sports
BaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The goal is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond...
is, by far, Nicaragua's most popular sport followed by
footballAssociation football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players using a spherical ball...
soccer and
boxingBoxing is a combat sport where two participants, generally of similar weight, fight each other with their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee and is typically engaged in during a series of one to three-minute intervals called rounds. There are three ways to win...
. The Dennis Martínez National Stadium is home to many baseball games of Managua's Boer team. At the time of its construction in the late 1960s, it was the most modern stadium in Central America. It hosted the Baseball World Cup in 1994.
Baseball was first introduced to Nicaragua in 1888 in the Caribbean coastal town of
BluefieldsBluefields is the capital of the municipality of the same name, and of Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur in Nicaragua. It was also capital of the former Zelaya Department, which was divided into North and South Atlantic Autonomous Regions...
, but it didn't catch on in the towns on the Pacific coast region until 1891 when a group of mostly students originating from universities of the United States formed "La Sociedad de Recreo" (Society of Recreation) to play various sports. Baseball was the most popular among them.
Since the anticipation of the World Cup of 2006, there's been growing amateur interest in little football or "futbolin" among teens and adults. New private courts or "canchas" like La Meca del Futbol and La Liga, offer well-conditioned courts for rent by the hour. Such establishments have played a big role in the promotion of amateur games and fun tournaments. On the professional level, the National Nicaraguan Football team has still not had the public support nor the international exposure as the regional counterparts like the Costa Rican or Honduran teams. However, with support of the FIFA, the first ever national football stadium in Managua is under construction.
In Managua there are two golf courses, the better-known of which is Nejapa Golf & Country Club.
Crime
Nicaragua has been rated the safest country in Central America.
INTERPOLInterpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
, the United Nations, INCAE, the Inter-American Human Rights Institute and the Police Forces in the Americas are cited claiming that statistically, Nicaragua has the lowest crime rate in Central America and one of the second lowest in Latin America only to Uruguay.
However, the actual homicide rate in Costa Rica is lower, and Panama's is comparable.
Neither Nicaragua or the city of Managua have major
gangA gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
problems, in comparison to some of its
regional neighborManagua
Guatemala City
San Salvador
San Pedro Sula
Panama City
San José, Costa Rica
Santa Ana, El Salvador
León
San Miguel|-|}...
s. However, in Nicaragua, as in all other Central American countries, as well as in the U.S., the Salvadoran-founded
MS 13Mara Salvatrucha is a criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles and has spread to Central America, other parts of the United States, and Canada. MS-13 is one of the most dangerous gangs in the United States...
gang has recruited members. Despite their presence in the country, Nicaragua has the lowest number of MS 13 members in Central America. The number of gang members was estimated at 4,500 throughout the country, lower than all of its Northern neighbors in the region (excluding Belize). In 2003, the
Policía Nacional de NicaraguaThe Policía Nacional are the national police of Nicaragua. They are in charge of regular police functions and sometimes work in conjunction with the Nicaraguan military, making it an indirect and rather subtle version of a gendarmerie....
(National Police of Nicaragua) recognized gangs committed only 0.51% of all crimes. In 1991, there were 110 gangs in Managua, in 2001 the number of gangs reduced to 96 gangs with a total of 1,725 members. Over the next 3–4 years the number of gangs and gang members both decreased and increased. In late 2005 the number of gangs and members decreased significantly to 34 gangs and their 706 members in Managua, these represented 38% and 32% of the national total of gangs and its members. In a recent report by
La PrensaLa Prensa is a Nicaraguan newspaper, with offices in the capital Managua. Its current daily circulation is placed at 42,000.-Early years:La Prensa was founded by Pedro Belli, Gavry Rivas and Enrique Belli on March 2, 1926...
, Chief of Police,
Aminta GraneraAminta Granera was a Nicaraguan Sandinista who fought against the Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle in the 1970's. She was training to be a nun when she became a Sandinista....
, stated that vehicles robberies has reduced; a mere 200 reports were filed in 2006.
Urban planning
The German government is currently funding the construction of a water treatment plant with plans to process the city's sewage and clean the Managua lake. When finished, it will be the largest water treatment plant in Central America. Also pending is a mega-project to reconstruct the old center of Managua, and to introduce a
monorailA monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail, which acts as its sole support and its guideway. The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track. The term originates from the contraction of the words mono...
system, to alleviate future transportation problems in Managua. Both of these projects will revitalize the old center of Managua and boost tourism, commerce, infrastructure and economic development.
Media and communications
Managua is the home of most national broadcasting television channels as well as the major national newspapers. Some of the larger television channels include:
Canal 2Televicentro Canal 2 is a nationwide terrestrial television channel from Nicaragua owned by Televicentro de Nicaragua, S.A.- History :Televicentro de Nicaragua, S.A. was founded in December 1965 by Octavio Sacasa Sarria and the channel had its first broadcasting in March, 1966. It was the second...
,
TelenicaTelenica is a nationwide terrestrial television channel from Nicaragua, owned by Nicaraguan businessman Carlos Briceño. Telenica is one of Nicaragua’s main channels. Its programming is aimed to the family audience, concentrating on news broadcasting, informational programming, sports and...
,
Canal 10Canal 10 is a nationwide terrestrial television channel from Nicaragua owned by Radio y Televisión de Nicaragua, S.A. , a company founded by Mexican investors....
,
100% Noticias100% Noticias, El Canal is the first 24-hour news channel in Nicaragua. The channel is owned by the Nicaraguan journalist Miguel Mora. It has broadcast since 2002 from local cable TV company Estesa's channel 63 and from its website ....
, and several others. The three national Two newspapers are
El Nuevo DiarioEl Nuevo Diario is a Nicaraguan newspaper, with offices in the capital Managua. El Nuevo Diario was founded in 1980 by a breakaway group of employees of La Prensa sympathetic to the Sandinista cause, that included 80 percent of the staff and the editor, Xavier Chamorro Cardenal, who opposed the new...
,
La Prensa, and HOY, which have offices based in Managua along with other smaller newspapers. There are numerous radio stations in Managua, some of which tend to have political, social, or religious affiliations.
Hospitals
The best hospitals in Managua are private since they have newer facilities, equipment, and access to international insurance companies. Emergency services is quicker than the public hospitals and the costs are much lower than in the USA (example: emergency consultation is typically US$25 and a private room is U.S. $98 a day). The newest and state of the art private Hospital is Metropolitano Vivian Pellas considered the most advanced in Central America and is located at km 10, Carretera Masaya which has a private ambulance service. Other privates are Hospital Salud Integral, Hospital Militar Aleman which is for both private and military personnel, and Hospital Bautista (Baptist Hospital). Public hospitals have come to specialize in certain types of care, cardiology, neurology, maternity, children, skin care, etc.
The
Nicaraguan Red CrossThe Nicaraguan Red Cross , is a member of the Red Cross Society and the national ambulence service in Nicaragua. Founded on January 10, 1934, it remains the country's emergency medical response organization. The Nicaraguan Red Cross has its headquarters in Managua.-External Links:*...
services the ambulences of Managua.
Transportation
Transportation-wise, Managua is one of Nicaragua's best positioned cities. All of Nicaragua's main roads lead to Managua, and there are good public transportation connections to and from the capital. There are four main highways that lead into Managua. The
Pan-American HighwayThe Pan-American Highway is a network of roads measuring about 47,958 kilometres in total length. Except for an 87 kilometre rainforest break, called the Darién Gap, the road links the mainland nations of the Americas in a connected highway system...
enters the city from the north, connecting Managua to Nicaragua's northern and central departments. This highway is referred to as the Northern Highway. The Southern Highway, the southern part of the Pan-American highway, connects Managua to southern departments such as Carazo and Rivas. The Carretera Masaya connects Managua to the departments of Masaya and Granada. And the New Highway to León connects Managua with León. All of these highways are in good condition, with little traffic congestion. Infrastructure is very-well developed in Nicaragua compared to other Central American countries and there are few unnavigable roads or streets. There are very few towns or cities that have road leading to them that do not have different levels of public transportation. In fact, most buses are continually full even in the smallest of villages.
Within Managua, those who commute to and from work generally travel by bus or
taxiA taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire, with a driver, for a single passenger, or small group of passengers, typically for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
; as of yet there are no suburban trains, trams or monorails in Managua. Recently, with the assistance of the
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese government, Managua has commenced operating new modern
Mercedes-Benz busesMercedes-Benz has been making buses since 1895 in Mannheim in Germany. Since 1995, the brand of Mercedes-Benz buses and coaches is under the umbrella of EvoBus GmbH, belonging 100 % to the Daimler AG.-Heritage:...
on several bus routes with the intention of modernizing the city's transport system. Typical Nicaraguan buses are older
school busA school bus is a type of bus used for transporting children and teenagers to and from school and school events. The first school bus was horse-drawn, introduced in 1827 by George Shillibeer for a Quaker school at Abney Park in Stoke Newington, London, United Kingdom, and was designed to carry 25...
es from the United States. Additionally some buses are painted with religious artwork of Catholic saints. Managua has several bus terminals for inter-departmental travel, most of them located close to markets. Buses that arrive from or depart to a certain destination can often only be found at one specific terminal. Travelers who pass through Managua on their way from one city to another might need to transfer to another terminal within Managua. Nicaragua had an extensive and functional rail system. It fell into disrepair during the 1980s and the Chamorro government closed the system and sold the cars and rails for scrap.
The Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (formally Managua International Airport) is the largest airport, and only international airport, in Nicaragua. It recently inaugurated its over US$52 million extensions and renovation partly financed by Spain. The airport was remodeled by architect Roberto Sansón and has now been converted into the second most modern airport of Central America. In Nicaragua, it is the most important hub for connections at both domestic and international levels. Frequent flights to local destinations like
BluefieldsBluefields is the capital of the municipality of the same name, and of Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur in Nicaragua. It was also capital of the former Zelaya Department, which was divided into North and South Atlantic Autonomous Regions...
, the
Corn IslandsMap of the Corn Islands .pngThe Corn Islands are two islands about 70 km east off the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, constituting one of 12 municipalities of the Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur department...
and San Carlos also depart from this same location. The airport is located at the northern highway, about 11 kilometers (8 miles) east of the city's downtown. Hotels, restaurants, and commercial centers can all be easily reached from the airport by car, taxi, or bus. There are a total of 10 airlines that operate flights to and from the airport. A setback occurred when Air Madrid filed for bankruptcy, ending the possibility of transatlantic flights to the Spanish capital; the company has also shown interest in building a hangar for regional maintenance of its aircraft and those of other airlines.
Twin towns - Sister cities
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