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Nicaragua Travel |
Capital of NicaraguaManagua, the capital of Nicaragua, is a relatively young capital, especially compared to nearby cities León and Granada which was both founded in 1524. Managua started out as a small rural fishing village on the south-western shore of Lake Managua (Xolotlan) during the early 19th century. In 1819, it was formally established and given the name Leal Villa de Santiago de Managua. It wasn’t until 1858 that Managua finally became the capital of Nicaragua, settling a long-lasting schism over supremacy between Granada and Léon. Nicaragua has since long been characterized by the struggle of power between conservative Granada located on the banks of Lake Nicaragua (Cocibolca) and liberal Léon on Río Chiquito. In 1821, Nicaragua gained its independence from Spain as a part of the United Provinces of Central America. As early as 1824, efforts were made to turn Managua into the capital of Nicaragua, even though Nicaragua was still not an independent republic in its own right. In 1839, Nicaragua split from the United Provinces of Central America and Léon was established as the capital of Nicaragua, much to the dismay of Granada residents and conservatives throughout the rest of the country. During the following years, the capital of Nicaragua was swinging back and forth between Léon and Granada, depending on whether liberal or conservative forces were in power. In 1858, this came to a halt as liberal and conservative forces agreed on making Managua, ideally located halfway between Léon and Granada, the official and stable capital of Nicaragua. It had then already been recognized as the Seat of the Government since 1852. The capital of Nicaragua is located in the western part of the country, in the hot and humid Pacific lowlands. The climate is tropical and the temperature averages between 82 and 90 degrees F (28-32 degrees C). If you want to avoid the highest temperatures, you should ideally plan your visit to the capital of Nicaragua to December or January, the “coldest” part of the year, and avoid March and April, the warmest months. March and April are however dry months, so if you prefer heat to rain, they are both good options. The capital of Nicaragua is today home to nearly 1,400,000 residents and features interesting cultural sights and performances as well as a well visited dancehalls, laid back pubs and several casinos. When you have spent the day grasping the vibrant Managuan culture and sampling the cuisine, you can always retreat back to one of several air-conditioned cinemas and enjoy a Latin American movie. In the capital of Nicaragua, movie theatres are normally located within large shopping centres. If you prefer live theatre, one of central Americas most appreciated theatres are to be found in the capital of Nicaragua, the Rubén Dario National Theatre. This theatre has attracted talented actors and artist from Nicaragua and Central America, as well as from the rest of the world. A rich assortment of cultural performances is offered here, including national folklore plays, contemporary concerts, tango shows and various exhibitions. The capital of Nicaragua is often used as a base from which tourists can explore the rest of this fascinating country. Nicaragua is no larger than just above 50,000 square miles (not quite 130,000 km²) and everything is therefore within a short distance. If you want to visit the Atlantic coast, there are plains leaving several times a day from Managua. This way, you do not have to venture onto the second-rate roads found in the eastern part of Nicaragua.
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