Granada City
The capital of the Granada Department, Granada is a city in western Nicaragua that is pronounced [ơɾaˈnaða] in Spanish. It is the ninth most populated city in Nicaragua, with an estimated 104,091 residents as of 2020. One of the most significant cities in Nicaragua's history, both politically and economically, is Granada. Its structure and architecture reflect its rich colonial past.

The Indigenous population in Granada was flourishing. Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, supposedly the first European city in continental America, christened the city Granada in 1524. In contrast to other cities that make the same claim, Granada was not only the site of the conquest but was also listed in the official records of the Kingdom of Castile and the Crown of Aragon in Spain.

In contrast to its sister city and historical adversary León, which has Castilian tendencies, Granada is also known as La Gran Sultana, reflecting its Moorish and Andalusian aspect.

The past
Spanish conquistador Hernández de Córdoba founded the village of Granada and gave it the name of the Spanish city of the same name. This was done in commemoration of the city's conquest by the Emirate of Granada's armies under King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I. As a sister city to Antigua, Guatemala, Granada maintained a thriving level of trade with ports in the Atlantic Ocean through Lake Cocibolca and the San Juan River during the colonial era. English, French, and Dutch pirates attempted to seize control of the settlement by sailing up the San Juan River, but were unsuccessful.

William Walker, an American filibuster, also settled in Granada and made an effort to seize control of Central America and establish autonomous colonies with slave-based economies. "Here was Granada" was written on the remains by Charles Frederick Henningsen, one of Walker's generals, who set the city on fire before fleeing, destroying most of the colonial-era architecture.

For many years, León and Granada fought for control over Nicaragua's largest city. While the Liberals preferred Leon, the Conservatives preferred the city of Granada. Families and political factions in the cities had been at odds for many years, often turning violent. In the mid-19th century a compromise site was agreed on and the capital was finally established at Managua between both cities.[Reference required] As of 1850, Granada had a population of approximately 10,000.

The turmoil of the Sandinista Era in the 1970s and 1980s was mostly avoided by Granada.

Ecology and geography
Granada is situated on the shores of Lake Nicaragua, also known as Lake Cocibolca, which is the twentieth largest lake in the world.

The Department of Granada, which has Rivas to the south, Masaya and Carazo to the east, and Boaco and Managua to the north, is centered on the city of Granada. The River Tipitapa flows through the same district in the north, connecting Nicaragua and the Lake of Managua. Additionally, it features three volcanic lagoons: the well-known Apoyo, Genirzaro, and Manares. Apoyo is Nicaragua's largest volcanic lagoon and is shared with the Department of Masaya. The year-round temperatures in Granada are remarkably similar to those in Managua. This is because of the geographical similarities—it is near a lake and encircled by tall hills.

Granada receives between 1,100 and 2,100 mm of rain a year, and the average temperature there is 25.7 °C.

The climatology of Granada is reflected in the local plants. The Mombacho volcano is surrounded by wet and dry woods. A diverse range of wildlife can be found on the volcano (see Wildlife of Nicaragua). Numerous freshwater and marine animals can be found in the lake. Sharks (Nicaragua sharks) alone inhabit this freshwater lake in the globe. The lake offers excellent fishing, and both commercial and recreational anglers frequently capture sardines, guapote, and mojarras. Due to a reduction in population, Nicaragua recently outlawed fishing for Nicaraguan sharks and sawfish.

Malacatoya, El Paso, El Guayabo, Diria, Macatepe, El Guanacaste, Nandaime, and Diriomo—known across the country as the "last city of witches"—are some of the other significant cities and towns in the Granada district. With a height of 1,345 meters, the Mombacho volcano is the highest point in Granada. The dormant volcano hurled most of its cone into the lake, creating the 365 Islets of Granada, from where it offers a breathtaking panorama. On a clear day, the Ometepe and Zapatera Islands can also be seen.In addition to having a dormant volcano, the latter island is the second largest in Lake Nicaragua. Ometepe Island, which is also in Lake Nicaragua, is the biggest. Known as the location of pre-Columbian statues and idols that were discovered on the island during the Spanish conquest and are currently on display in the Convento San Francisco Museum and other museums and parks on Ometepe Island, it is a national treasure.

Numerous beaches on Lake Nicaragua in Granada are well-liked during Semana Santa, also known as "Holy Week."

Tourism and the economy
Granada has traditionally been a hub for trade in commodities including gold, silver, and lumber. As Granada develops become a major tourist destination, its economy is expanding. Despite being the sixth largest city in Nicaragua, Granada is well-known for having preserved some of the best colonial-era buildings in the nation.

For a number of years, there had been a real estate boom in the area, with many Americans and Europeans buying and remodeling properties for vacation or retirement, and a number of international real estate brokers opening offices. However, in 2007, the boom slowed. Investor interest has shifted to Northern Nicaragua, the cities of Matagalpa, Leon, and Corinto, as well as the nearby beaches of Leon and Corinto, as a result of the previous spike in real estate prices in Granada and other areas of Southwestern Nicaragua.

The number of new hotels and restaurants is rapidly increasing, and museums have opened.

Granada has rich agricultural territory inside the municipality, despite its current heavy reliance on tourism. Within its borders, a significant amount of organic coffee, chocolate, cattle, plantains, and bananas are produced.

Cooking

Newspapers like the New York Times have recognized Granada's eateries on a global scale. Pita Pita, Garden Café, and La Hacienda are just a few of the numerous eateries in Granada. The city of Granada's changing culinary landscape in recent years supports the survival of local growers and producers by combining flavors from around the world with local ingredients. A major factor in Granada's economy's continuous growth is the city's rapid rise as a tourist destination due to its colonial architecture, natural beauty, and current culinary offerings

Infrastructure
Because Granada developed centuries before motorized cars were invented, the majority of its streets are small. As a result, many streets nowadays only permit one-way traffic, which presents a problem for tourists arriving by car.

Most of Granada's infrastructure and structures started to degrade after years of neglect, mostly brought on by the country's economic collapse in the 1980s. Public utilities and roads deteriorated.

However, in the ensuing decades, the city administration allocated funding for the repair and acknowledgment of numerous historic buildings in Granada. The city has been renovated with financial assistance from the Spanish government. Making Calle La Calzada a pedestrian-only roadway is one such project.

Historical streets, buildings, and attractions that are relevant

San Francisco Church and Museum
Xalteva Church
Plazuela de los Leones
Plaza de la Independencia
Central Park
Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral
Guadalupe Church Calle La Calzada
Calle Atravesada
La Merced Church
Fortin de San Pablo
Fuerte La Pólvora
Episcopal Palace
Alcaldía Municipal
San Antonio College
Diocesan College
Old Social Club
Old Railway Station

Culture
Spanish-speaking Criollos make up the bulk of the population in Granada, as they do throughout rest of the Nicaraguan Pacific. People from the United States, Canada, Spain, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Austria, the Netherlands, and France also call this place home.

Nicaragua's tourism industry was flourishing until recently. This in turn brought in foreigners looking to buy colonial properties in Granada, increasing the city's population of Europeans and Americans. Following the foreign interest and ensuing investments, real estate values had risen. The US Department of State, however, issued a travel advisory in response to the 2018 civil war, citing "civil unrest, crime, limited healthcare availability, and arbitrary enforcement of laws." Because of COVID 19, it issued a Level 4, "Do Not Travel" advice in 2020.

Credits: www.wikipedia.org/wiki/

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