๐ณ๐ฎย Granada is a stunning city on the shores of Lake Nicaragua and historically one of Nicaragua’s most important cities, economically and politically.
Granada had a thriving Indigenous population, but in 1524 Francisco Cรณrdoba a Spanish conquistador the city was renamed Granada
and registeredย asย aย city in official records of the Crown of Aragon, and the Kingdom of Castile in Spain.
Itโs home to multiple Spanish colonial landmarks that have survived repeated pirate invasions.
The cityโs main plaza, Central Park, is dominated by the colorful, neoclassical facade of the Cathedral of Granada, originally dating to 1583.
The Centro Cultural Convent San Francisco nearby is famed for its displays of per-Columbian statues.
Granada, Nicaragua was the sister capital to Antigua in Guatemala. During the colonial period, Granada maintained a flourishing level of commerce with ports on the Atlantic Ocean, through Lake Nicaragua ( Lago Cocibolca) and the San Juan River. As such the city was victim to many battles withย invasions from English, French and Dutch pirates trying to take controlย by sailing up the San Juan River.
It was also where American William Walker attempted to take control of Central America as a ruling president. One of his generals, Charles Frederick Henningsen, set the city ablaze before escaping, destroying much of the ancient city and leaving printed the words “Here was Granada”.
Agriculture around Granada is reflected by dry forests and ย humid forests which grow on the sides of the nearby 1,344 meter high Mombacho volcano. The volcano is also home to a wide array of wildlife.ย The lake is also home to many creatures, both marine and freshwater creatures. It is the only freshwater lake in the world where sharks live.
The Midas cichlid, native to the San Juan River basin in Nicaragua and Costar Rica, is now recognized as a species complex with dozens of species, most or all of them inhabiting extremely reduced ranges.ย Fishing in the lake is plentyful and fishermen regularly catch guapote and mojarras, as well as sardines.
Granada’s restaurants have received international recognition by newspapers like the New York Times.
Not only do they serve a wide variety of delicious foods, but they seek to do so in a manner that is sustainable and beneficial to the larger community. Granada is quickly becoming a central hub for excursions to other areas of Nicaragua and Central America so if you are in the region, stop by one of the restaurants mentioned on this list for a taste of Latin American hospitality
- The Garden Cafe
- Cafe de los Sueรฑos
- Cafe De Arte
- Miss Dellโs Kitchen
- Bocadillos Tapas Kitchen & Bar
- Monna Lisa
To stay overnight you can book any of these lovely boutique hotels
You can access this world heritage site from the Marina Puesta del Sol in an easy day trip via rental car –
stay a few days to soak in the magnificent history and culture.