Masaya, Nicaragua
Masaya is one of the biggest cities in Nicaragua. Around 120,000 people live there. The city is only about 30 km southeast from Managua. Masaya is still very much its own city, despite the growth at Managua’s outskirts that threatens to someday swallow up the smaller city.
Masaya is nestled between the Meseta de los Pueblos and Masaya Lagoon (laguna). The city is also very near the still-active volcano of the same name. The historical downtown market, now host to a tourist-centered handicrafts (artesanía) market, rounds out the tourist attractions for the area.
Masaya History
Like most Nicaraguan cities, Masaya was built by the Spanish alongside an indigenous settlement. In this case, the indigenous settlement was named Monimbo. The city became known as the “city of flowers” because Masayans supposedly kept especially beautiful flower gardens in front of their homes.
Today, the city center is still very much an example of colonial Nicaraguan architecture and city planning, with beautiful old churches, narrow streets, and small, colorfully painted buildings that encourage you to wander around. Sadly, a massive earthquake struck in the year 2000, causing great damage. Nevertheless, the city is still open to tourists and its main attractions remain intact.
Masaya’s Sights
Masaya’s attractions include its lovely colonial buildings and parks. Of the eight churches, the two most worth seeing are Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and the church of San Jerónimo.
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is located on the Parque Central. It was built in 1750. Unlike many other old churches in Nicaragua, this one hasn’t been torn down and rebuilt so many times it’s almost new. Instead, it’s still pretty much the same as it was three and a half centuries ago. There are three naves and a beautiful copula in the middle with an enormous bell tower. The building is a mixture of Baroque and Classical architectural styles, owing to its date of construction at the cusp of those two epochs. Sadly, the church was damaged in the great earthquake of 2000, though it’s still open.
The San Jerónimo church was first built in 1833. It’s named for the patron saint of Masaya. The church’s cupola and bell tower are especially striking.
Of course, the best-advertised attraction in the city is the handicrafts (artesanía) market.
colonial buildings history Masaya meseta de los pueblos nicaragua nicaraguan old churches
Nicaragua Rules, especially Masaya! Did you know that Masaya is the only city in the world with that title Masaya, And hey let’s admit it with a name like that who know’s if the fake Messiah will come out of Masaya(Get It), Nevertheless I was born there April 8,1980 and left at an early age to the U.S anyway Nicaragua has an host of beautiful attractions I hope you enjoy.Oh-yeah I wonder why the Rockefellor’s were once there!!!
Masaya, Nicaragua
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Masaya is one of the biggest cities in Nicaragua. Around 120,000 people live there. The city is only about 30 km southeast from Managua. Masaya is still very much its own city, despite the growth at Managua’s outskirts that threatens to someday swallow up the smaller city.
Masaya is nestled between the Meseta de los Pueblos and Masaya Lagoon (laguna). The city is also very near the still-active volcano of the same name. The historical downtown market, now host to a tourist-centered handicrafts (artesanía) market, rounds out the tourist attractions for the area.
Masaya History
Like most Nicaraguan cities, Masaya was built by the Spanish alongside an indigenous settlement. In this case, the indigenous settlement was named Monimbo. The city became known as the “city of flowers” because Masayans supposedly kept especially beautiful flower gardens in front of their homes.
Today, the city center is still very much an example of colonial Nicaraguan architecture and city planning, with beautiful old churches, narrow streets, and small, colorfully painted buildings that encourage you to wander around. Sadly, a massive earthquake struck in the year 2000, causing great damage. Nevertheless, the city is still open to tourists and its main attractions remain intact.
Masaya’s Sights
Masaya’s attractions include its lovely colonial buildings and parks. Of the eight churches, the two most worth seeing are Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and the church of San Jerónimo.
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is located on the Parque Central. It was built in 1750. Unlike many other old churches in Nicaragua, this one hasn’t been torn down and rebuilt so many times it’s almost new. Instead, it’s still pretty much the same as it was three and a half centuries ago. There are three naves and a beautiful copula in the middle with an enormous bell tower. The building is a mixture of Baroque and Classical architectural styles, owing to its date of construction at the cusp of those two epochs. Sadly, the church was damaged in the great earthquake of 2000, though it’s still open.
The San Jerónimo church was first built in 1833. It’s named for the patron saint of Masaya. The church’s cupola and bell tower are especially striking.
Of course, the best-advertised attraction in the city is the handicrafts (artesanía) market.
colonial buildings history Masaya meseta de los pueblos nicaragua nicaraguan old churches
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1 Comment so far
Anonymous on October 1st, 2007
Nicaragua Rules, especially Masaya! Did you know that Masaya is the only city in the world with that title Masaya, And hey let’s admit it with a name like that who know’s if the fake Messiah will come out of Masaya(Get It), Nevertheless I was born there April 8,1980 and left at an early age to the U.S anyway Nicaragua has an host of beautiful attractions I hope you enjoy.Oh-yeah I wonder why the Rockefellor’s were once there!!!
Posting your comment.
is one of the biggest cities in Nicaragua. Around 120,000 people live there. The city is only about 30 km southeast from Managua. Masaya is still very much its own city, despite the growth at Managua’s outskirts that threatens to someday swallow up the smaller city.
Masaya is nestled between the Meseta de los Pueblos and Masaya Lagoon (laguna). The city is also very near the still-active volcano of the same name. The historical downtown market, now host to a tourist-centered handicrafts (artesanía) market, rounds out the tourist attractions for the area.
Masaya History
Like most Nicaraguan cities, Masaya was built by the Spanish alongside an indigenous settlement. In this case, the indigenous settlement was named Monimbo. The city became known as the “city of flowers” because Masayans supposedly kept especially beautiful flower gardens in front of their homes.
Today, the city center is still very much an example of colonial Nicaraguan architecture and city planning, with beautiful old churches, narrow streets, and small, colorfully painted buildings that encourage you to wander around. Sadly, a massive earthquake struck in the year 2000, causing great damage. Nevertheless, the city is still open to tourists and its main attractions remain intact.
Masaya’s Sights
Masaya’s attractions include its lovely colonial buildings and parks. Of the eight churches, the two most worth seeing are Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and the church of San Jerónimo.
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is located on the Parque Central. It was built in 1750. Unlike many other old churches in Nicaragua, this one hasn’t been torn down and rebuilt so many times it’s almost new. Instead, it’s still pretty much the same as it was three and a half centuries ago. There are three naves and a beautiful copula in the middle with an enormous bell tower. The building is a mixture of Baroque and Classical architectural styles, owing to its date of construction at the cusp of those two epochs. Sadly, the church was damaged in the great earthquake of 2000, though it’s still open.
The San Jerónimo church was first built in 1833. It’s named for the patron saint of Masaya. The church’s cupola and bell tower are especially striking.
Of course, the best-advertised attraction in the city is the handicrafts (artesanía) market.
colonial buildings history Masaya meseta de los pueblos nicaragua nicaraguan old churches
I read some of the posts and I think it is a great site. What do you think of my much attributes Do you want a joke?
What do snowmen eat for breakfast? Snowflakes.
Thanks!,
Do you know the name of the first music band in Masaya? Los Virgos, in 1967 after a year they changed the name to Los Eskimales. They use to play every Monday in La Luna, this was a nice hotel in Managua, Nicaragua.
I was born in Masaya, moved to the US at an early age. I can’t wait to go visit my Family there =) I love Masaya!!!!
A very beatiful city in my beautiful country. Viva Masaya!