Managua

Managua, officially Leal Villa de Santiago de Managua, is a municipality and the capital of the Republic of Nicaragua, head of the department of Managua, as well as the seat of the government and state powers. It is located in the west of Nicaragua, on the southwest coast of Lake Xolotlán or Managua, being the largest city in the country in terms of population and geographic extension and one of the largest cities in Central America. The city is based on a historic pre-Columbian town that was elevated to a town in 1819 by King Ferdinand VII of Spain. Then it became a city in 1846, declared the Nation's Capital in 1852 and a district was created in 2009.

Managua has a population of around 1,380,000 inhabitants within its municipal limits, the metropolitan area of Managua, (which includes the most populated and closest cities such as Tipitapa and Ciudad Sandino) adds two million inhabitants, which makes it in one of the most populated cities in Central America. Managua is the largest population center in the country, concentrating 24% of the population.

Efforts to make Managua the capital of Nicaragua began in 1824, after the nations of Central America formally achieved their independence from Spain. The location of Managua between León and Granada made it a logical and ideal place to provide a definitive solution to the rivalry between these two cities, which had been fighting for that title since colonial times.

The appearance of Managua has had radical changes throughout its history, due to innumerable natural disasters such as landslides, floods, but mainly earthquakes that have totally or partially destroyed the city on several occasions, delaying decades of progress by erasing the most of the infrastructure, the most relevant and recent occurred in 1931 and 1972.

After the latter, Managua became a messy metropolis, with a downtown in rubble, no tall buildings, impoverished, and unattractive for investment. The destructive events of the civil war of the 1970s and 1980s aggravated this situation. After four decades, the capital of Nicaragua has begun to take flight to rank as the third city in the hemisphere in Foreign Direct Investment Strategy (FDI) in the category of Cities of the Future of the Americas 2013-2014, published by the Financial Times..

Etymology

The crater lagoons of Acahualinca, Asososca, Nejapa, Tiscapa, Apoyeque and Xiloá, as well as Lake Xolotlán, are water reservoirs within the limits of Managua and at the same time give rise to its name, Manawak, which in Nahuatl means 'next to the water' or 'place surrounded by water'.

Geography

The capital has an extension of 267.2 km², it is located between the coordinates 12° 9′ 3″ north latitude and 86° 16′ 6″ west longitude, at an altitude of 83 m s. no. m.

Limits

Limits of Managua’s urban center

Northwest: Ciudad Sandino	North: Lake Xolotlán	Northeast: Tipitapa
West: Villa El Carmen		This: Nindirí
Southwest: The Cruise	South: Ticuantepe	Sureste: Nindirí

Relief

Managua is located on the western end of the interlacustrine plain (between Lake Xolotlán and Cocibolca), on fairly regular terrain at an average height of 83 m s. no. m. with a gentle slope to the south. The city extends from north to south from the coast of Lake Xolotlán to the foothills of the Managua mountains. The main orographic characteristics of its territory are: Lake Xolotlán to the north; Sierras de Managua to the south; system of hills and lagoons that stop the urban march to the west, among them the Motastepe and San Carlos hills; Asososca and Nejapa lagoons next to the Ticomo valley (a depression in what was once a crater lake), within the urban layout is the Tiscapa hill and lagoon; Acahualinca lagoon, north of the city.

History

Pre-Columbian

Human settlements in the Managua area have been known since pre-Columbian times in the 12th century BC. C., was an indigenous community, it settled on the shores of Lake Xolotlán approximately 15,000 years ago. Archaeological vestiges of this are the footprints of Acahualinca, fossils dating back 2,100 years, which were accidentally discovered in the Acahualinca neighborhood, on the shores of Lake Xolotlán. Other archaeological evidence exists, especially in the form of ceramics and volcanic stone statues, kept and exhibited in the National Museum of Nicaragua, in the Palace of Culture.

Contemporary

The layout of today's Managua was laid out in the 1810s. Originally it was a fishing village. In 1819, by a Royal Decree of Fernando VII of Spain, it was elevated to a town with the title of "Loyal Villa of Santiago de Managua" for having remained loyal to the Spanish government during the independence outbreaks of 1811 in Nicaragua.

Efforts to make Managua the capital of Nicaragua began in 1824, after the Central American nations formally gained their independence from Spain. Nicaragua became an independent nation in 1838.

On July 24, 1846, through the promulgation of a Legislative Law, it was elevated to a city with the name of "Santiago de Managua", being José María Sandres, senator president of the National Constituent Assembly. of the State of Nicaragua in session in Masaya (due to the civil war).

Between 1852 and 1930, Managua underwent extensive urbanization, becoming a base for governance, infrastructure, and services.

Managua's location between the rival cities of León and Granada made it a logical compromise site. Therefore, Managua was officially selected as the nation's capital in 1852.

In 1856 Managua was occupied by the troops of the American filibuster William Walker, using as their headquarters the high house that was the residence of the parish priests –which was located in the same place where the Palace of Culture is today– and Upon learning of the victory of the legitimist Colonel José Dolores Estrada in the Battle of San Jacinto on September 14 of the same year, they evicted her towards Granada. After the National War the following year (1857) the binary government or chachagua of Tomás Martínez Guerrero (conservative) and Máximo Jerez Tellería (liberal) was installed, which gave rise to the so-called period of "Conservative Enlightenment". »with 36 years of conservative governments.

In 1875 the department of Managua was created, separating it from the department of Granada.

On October 4, 1876, a flood fell on Managua, leaving hundreds of dead, wounded and homeless in its wake.

On July 11, 1893, the Liberal Revolution broke out in León, headed by Doctor and General José Santos Zelaya, who entered the capital victorious 14 days later, on the 25th of the same month through the "Calle del Triunfo", in the day of the feast of Santiago Apostle patron saint of the city; Currently the de facto patron is Santo Domingo de Guzmán, whose image appeared on the trunk of a tree in the Sierras de Managua in the mid-19th century and not in 1885 as has been believed on November 2. The party of Santiago received liberal support until 1910, after Zelaya's resignation the previous year (1909), and that of Santo Domingo received conservative support from that year to the point that today it is considered the patron saint of Managua, but It's not officially November 2.

Aerial image of Managua's debris in 1972.

The city was destroyed twice, in 1931 and 1972 by two separate earthquakes and shaken by a strong tremor in 1968. Events that were particularly harmful to the buildings located in the center of the city, made of adobe and taquezal, so that the urban planners chose to build new streets and neighborhoods on the periphery of the old city.

Under the government of Anastasio Somoza García and his family (1936-1979), the city was rebuilt and began to grow rapidly.

On January 22, 1967, on Roosevelt Avenue (now Gral. Augusto C. Sandino Pedestrian Avenue), the infamous January 22 Massacre took place in which soldiers of the National Guard (GN) fired their rifles US M1 Garand, 7.62 × 63 mm caliber, against National Opposition Union (UNO) protesters at the corner of the National Bank of Nicaragua (now National Assembly building), who were protesting against the then President of Nicaragua and puppet of the Somoza family regime Lorenzo Guerrero Gutiérrez.

Managua had become the most developed city in Central America. Current references differentiate Managua prior to the 1970s by labeling it as La Antigua Ciudad, which in English translates as "The Ancient City&# 3. 4; or "The Old City".

On December 23, 1972, at 12:35 a.m., an earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale destroyed part of the city, especially the center, causing more than ten thousand deaths and twenty thousand injuries. Fires caused by the disaster raged for the next two weeks. The government later confiscated the center and prohibited its reconstruction.

The 1979 Sandinista Revolution to overthrow the regime of Anastasio Somoza Debayle and the 11-year Contra War of the 1980s further devastated the city and its economy. To make matters worse, a series of natural disasters, including Hurricane Mitch in 1998, hampered economic recovery.

Demographics

During the last 100 years, the Managüense population has grown more than 23 times; from having only 38,000 inhabitants according to the 1906 census to having more than 908,000 inhabitants by the 2005 census. Currently it is estimated that the population of the city of Managua is around 1,058,191 inhabitants until the year 2021.

Historical demography

Managua has a current population of 1,055,247 inhabitants. Of the total population, 47.9% are men and 52.1% are women. Almost 98.9% of the population lives in the urban area.

Political division

Climate

Managua, like much of western Nicaragua except for the sierras, has a tropical climate with average constant temperatures between 28 and 32 °C (82 and 90 °F). According to the Köppen climate classification, the city has a Tropical Savannah Climate (Aw). There is a marked dry season between November and April, while most of the precipitation is received between May and October. Temperatures are highest in March and April, when the sun is directly overhead and the summer rains have not yet started.

Average climate parameters of Managua, Nicaragua
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Temp. max. abs. (°C)	37.0	37.1	37.8	38.5	38.5	37.5	39.2	35.7	36.5	36.6	35.4	36.2	39.2
Average temperature (°C)	31.0	32.1	33.6	34.3	34.0	31.4	30.9	31.4	30.3	30.8	30.6	30.8	31.8
Average temperature (°C)	26.3	27.2	28.5	29.3	29.3	27.2	26.8	27.2	26.8	26.5	26.3	26.2	27.3
Temp. medium (°C)	20.4	20.6	21.7	22.6	23.4	23.0	22.6	22.4	22.2	22.1	20.9	20.0	21.8
Temp. min. abs. (°C)	15.0	15.2	17.2	19.0	16.0	20.0	20.0	19.0	15.0	17.0	15.0	16.2	15.0
Rains (mm)	9	5	3	8	130	224	144	136	215	280	42	8	1204
Rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm)	4	2	2	2	10	22	20	17	20	19	10	5	133
Hours of sun	263.5	254.2	291.4	276.0	229.4	186.0	151.9	195.3	210.0	223.2	231.0	248.0	2759.9
Relative humidity (%)	69	64	62	61	70	80	79	81	82	83	78	73	73
Source: Wetter Spiegel online

Economy

The economy of the city is based mainly on trade and industry. Managua is Nicaragua's main commercial center for coffee, cotton, other crops, and industry. The capital makes the department of Managua the most economically active, its main products include beer, coffee, matches, textiles and footwear.

Because it is the capital city, and the center of the economy, it is the city that has the most shopping centers (Galerías Santo Domingo, Metrocentro, Multicentro Las Américas, Multicentro Las Brisas and Plaza Inter), traditional markets and supermarkets. They house the headquarters of the largest national companies, as well as some multinational companies (Tigo, Claro, Parmalat, Unión Fenosa and Walmart).

In Managua is the populous Oriental Market, the largest in Nicaragua and one of the largest in the open air in Central America, where luxurious Arab and Turkish shops mix with rustic sections and small merchants who offer their products in street carts, moves up to US$100 million a month in commercial activity, according to the authorities.

The manager of the Managua Municipal Market Corporation, Augusto Rivera, said that the activity generated by this "commercial giant", as he calls the Oriental, represents between 25% and 30% of the country's gross domestic product.

Commerce is one of the sectors that is currently experiencing the most growth in the department of Managua, as well as one that arises with the beautification of old Managua with Bolívar avenue and the Malecón have become a reference for the tourists who visit Managua, now there are thousands of tourists who come to the Malecón every month, promoting tourism as a new economic activity.

Managua is the largest employer in Nicaragua with 24.2% of the total number of employed persons in the country and to give an example, only the free zone companies that operate in the city generate more than 60,000 direct jobs and more than 100,000 indirect.

It is the headquarters of the national and international banking entities Banco de América Central (BAC), Banco de Crédito Centroamericano (Bancentro), Banco de Finanzas (BDF), Banco de la Producción (BANPRO), Banco Financiera Comercial Hondureña (FICOHSA). The economy of the capital is also supported by the hotel industry. International tourists have seen Managua as the right place to live, especially those from North America and Europe.

It is on Avenida Jean Paul Genie that investors, businessmen and foreign cooperation have found a space to settle and with this presence, the multiplier factor has been activated rapidly. For Benjamín Lanzas, president of the Nicaraguan Chamber of Construction (CNC), the presence of private investors seeking the development of buildings in areas of the capital that were largely forgotten, promoting at least 2,500 jobs.

Infrastructure

Transportation

See also: Calles de Managua

Collective Urban Transport

Map of the Managua bus route.

In Managua there are 35 bus routes, which are operated by cooperatives and private companies. In addition, there are two routes which were integrated into what is now Managua (Esquipulas and Los Vanegas) and 7 routes which connect the capital with Ciudad Sandino.

There is a map of collective urban transport at: http://rutas.mapanica.net, which has been created collectively with an initiative of the Nicaraguan community of OpenStreetMap.

Ground transportation

Managua is the best connected city in Nicaragua. All the country's main highways reach Managua and there is a good public transport connection to and from the capital.

There are four main highways that enter or leave Managua:

• The first is the Pan American Road, which crosses the city from east to west by the North Highway and joins Managua with the other departments of the north and center of the country.
• The second is the South Road that is another part of the Pan American Highway that runs to the southwest and joins the capital with the departments of the south, such as Carazo and Rivas.
• The third is the New to Leon road that unites Managua with León and Chinandega.
• The fourth is the highway to Masaya joins the department of Managua with those of Masaya and Granada.

All of these roads are in good condition and some of them have been recently renovated. In addition, the circulation is usually fluid. However, it is recommended to avoid the busiest hours to travel through them (7-8 a.m. and 5 -6 p.m.).

Major road arteries in Managua. In the image of the Step to the Disclosures.

There are several car rental companies in Managua, including several with international capital. Another option is to take a stagecoach or intercity bus at one of Managua's many terminals, most of which are located in the markets. Buses arriving or leaving a specific destination are found only in one terminal. Travelers passing through Managua on their way to another place must transfer from one terminal to another to continue on their way.

Officially, Managua is divided into four sectors no, ne, so, se and has an alphanumeric road nomenclature system that was used until 1972. However, natural disasters, wars and social instability put an end to the custom of using street names. At the same time, and like other countries in the Americas, directions are given according to reference points, either present or missing buildings or objects. Now, the roads that still retain their name, lack signage. Even so, the natives find the addresses easily, however, for foreigners it is a challenge. Some of the streets that still keep their old names are Calle 27 de Mayo, Calle El Triunfo, Calle Colón, Calle Trébol, Bulevar de Los Mártires, etc. Also Avenida del Ejército, Avenida Bolívar, 35.ª Avenida Suroeste. There are many cobblestone roads, which were mostly built by the Minister of the National District, Arturo Cruz Porras, in the 1970s, during the Somocista regime, such as the Circunvalación or Bypass Road, Portezuelo Road, Benjamín Zeledón Road, UNAN-Managua Avenue (Universidad Nacional Autonomous Region of Nicaragua). During the 1972 earthquake the ring road or Bypass served for the evacuation of the city, later under the Sandinista regime the following were built: Avenida Bolívar, Pista Larreynaga, Pista Buenos Aires, Pista Radial Batahola, Pista Suburbana, Jean Paul Genie Track and El Mayoreo Track.

In Managua one of the quick transportation options are taxis.

Uber type applications ^ref

For many locals and foreigners, in addition to the very peculiar addresses that we have, it is difficult for them to move within the city, due to many issues, such as the quality and safety of public transportation and taxis in Managua.

1. Eco Trans Nicaragua, private transport service that not only gives you the option to mobilize within the capital, but can take you to other cities. To make use of this service, contact Facebook.
2. Aventon It is a Uber-style mobile app, where you find yourself and your final destination, it will show you an approximate travel cost in the same way.
3. Ray Nicaragua, We have another application with different modes of mobility, which allows you to choose if you need a premium vehicle that comes for you, so you can travel with the same rate, with up to 4 people in air conditioning.

The above are safe and quality options that we have found to move within the city, apart from public transport or taxis.

Air transportation

After its renovation, Augusto C International Airport. Sandino is considered one of the most modern airports in Central America.

The Augusto C. Sandino International Airport offers the most important routes, whether national or international. All international flights depart and arrive at this airport, and local flights to Bluefields, Corn Island, Puerto Cabezas and San Carlos frequently do as well. The airport is located on the Carretera Norte, about 11 km east of the heart of the city. Hotels, restaurants and shopping centers are easily accessible from the airport. It connects Nicaragua with the main airports in the area and the rest of the world. It is a sophisticated airport that meets the requirements of the region and meets the needs of liquor and handicraft stores. It is located on the North Highway.

Telecommunications

The city has a variety of modern means of communication. In fixed, public and mobile telephony, the main companies dedicated to these services in the country have their headquarters in the city. Among them are Claro, Tigo, etc. There is also coverage in cable, satellite, digital and internet television services.

Media

Managua is the headquarters of most of the nationally broadcast television channels, as well as the main national newspapers. Some of the largest television channels include: Canal 2, Telenica, Canal 10, Canal 15 Nicaraguense and several others. The two national newspapers are La Prensa and HOY, which have offices 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.

Culture

Managua is the cultural capital of Nicaragua and has several restaurants, theaters, museums and some shopping centers. The city is also home to many immigrant and expatriate communities from countries including, but not limited to, Taiwan, China, Germany, the United States, Palestine, and Latin American countries.

Managua hosts the annual Miss Nicaragua pageant, which is Nicaragua's national beauty pageant. It has been celebrated since 1955 and is usually organized at the Rubén Darío National Theater.

Gastronomy

Due to the influence of immigrants and tourists, it is common to find gastronomic specialties from the various regions of Nicaragua together with international ones in Managua. The most common foods include rice, plantains, beans, and varieties of cabbage and cheeses. There is a local tradition of cheese making and it is not unusual to find fried cheese garnished with many of the most popular dishes, such as fried plantain and gallo pinto, a traditional regional dish of rice and beans.

Managua enjoys a variety of international cuisine including Italian, Spanish and French restaurants, as well as many Asian (South Korean, Chinese and Taiwanese) restaurants. The capital is also notably dotted with many American restaurant chains such as Burger King, Pizza Hut, Little Caesars Pizza, McDonald's, Papa John's, and Subway, which have sprung up since the 1990s. local and regional fast food chains, such as Tip-Top and RostiPollos.

A strong tradition can be found in the preparation of local sweets such as caramel milk. You can also find some local varieties of chocolate, usually prepared with pepper and other spices or nuts. A "fast food" known as quesillo is popular throughout the country. Quesillo consists of locally produced cheese wrapped in a corn tortilla with sour cream, pickled onions, salt, and vinegar. Nacatamal, the Nicaraguan version of the tamale, is a local delicacy. Many fruits such as mangoes, jocotes, and mamones are a common snack. Mangoes and jocotes are often eaten green with salt and vinegar.

The preparation of steaks is one of the strong points of the local gastronomy. It is often accompanied by a special sauce known as chimichurri, made up of oil, garlic, and herbs. There are many major steakhouses throughout the country, including Los Ranchos, and they also include, but are not limited to, Argentinian, Brazilian, Chinese, French, German, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, and Spanish restaurants, as well as Nicaraguan.

Festivities

Managua's most famous festival is that of its patron saint, Santo Domingo de Guzmán. It begins on the morning of August 1, when the "Bajada del Santo" it involves many joyous people walking and carrying the ancient statue of Santo Domingo from Las Sierritas Church in the south of Managua to another church on the other side of the city to the north, in the area destroyed by the 1972 earthquake. Here it remains ten days until the morning of August 10, when the "Subida del Santo" return the statue to the church of Las Sierritas, where it remains for the rest of the year. Thousands of people attend this event that consists of dancing, eating, drinking and marching bands, mainly due to traditions dating back to pre-colonial times, or to ask for personal miracles, make promises or give thanks to the saint. During the procession many people dress up in typical costumes, masks and painted bodies. Other participants include "carrosas" of local trading companies, riders who come from Nicaragua and other neighboring Central American countries to show off their horses, skills and rider costumes. It also highlights the Devotion of the inhabitants of Managua for the "Sangre de Cristo", an image of Jesus Christ crucified that was brought from Guatemala 385 years ago that is taken out in Procession twice a year, the first time on Friday Holy when the Via Crucis is performed, thousands of people go to the procession blindfolded, distributing stamps, food, giving thanks or asking Jesus Christ for a miracle, and the second during the month of July, which is the month dedicated by the Catholic Church to the Blood of Christ, during that month the image is lowered and raised, Masses, Vigils, Serenades and days of prayer and fasting are held, the image goes out to tour the streets of the capital's neighborhoods. On July 31, 2020, the famous image suffered an attack, where an individual of unknown identity threw a Molotov cocktail, setting fire to the image and the chapel where it was kept. Currently the image remains charred, awaiting its restoration by the Catholic authorities. The processions and activities are carried out with a painting on a wooden frame of the Blood of Christ. Another festival that has been held since 2003 is Joy for Life. Carnival is celebrated in Managua at the beginning of March. There is a different motto or theme each year. This event is celebrated with parades, floats, live music, food and dancing in addition to the parade of the Carnival Queen.

Museums, libraries and cultural centers

The Palace of Culture has a permanent exhibition of Nicaraguan art.

Inside are the National Museum, which contains archaeological finds with some examples of pre-Columbian ceramics and statuary along with other finds; in addition to the National Library that offers abundant bibliographic information on the discovery and the Independence of Nicaragua.

The art museums that present pieces by national and international artists are the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo "Julio Cortázar" and the Film Archive of the National Cinematheque.

Among the natural history museums are the Museum of the Department of Malacology UCA, the Museo Gemológico de la Concha y el Caracol and the Museo Paleontológico "The Herd".

The Museo "Santo Domingo de Guzmán" is a museum of anthropology; while Huellas de Acahualinca is an archaeological site.

There are historical museums such as the Museum of the Revolution, the Loma de Tiscapa Historical Park and the Casa Hacienda San Jacinto Museum.

Cultural centers include the French Alliance of Managua, the Nicaraguan Chinese Cultural Center and the North American Nicaraguan Cultural Center, among others.

Places of interest

The Roberto Huembes Market is a popular center where many Managüenses buy their food, clothing and other necessary products, it is the "tourist market par excellence". Another option is the Oriental Market, the largest in Central America, which offers employment to more than ten thousand people. In the Oriental Market you can find all kinds of products.

Another interesting aspect of Managua is the presence of no less than four lagoons within the city limits.

The most central lagoon in the city is Tiscapa, formed about ten thousand years ago and which, because it is located on the Tiscapa hill, offers extraordinary views of Managua. Tiscapa is also a historical place, since the old Presidential House was located on the north shore of the crater before the 1972 earthquake. The building partially collapsed due to the aforementioned earthquake but also because the earthquake of March 31, 1931 damaged its bases and these were not repaired. In the early 1990s, the government of President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro demilitarized the hill and built a walkway on top. Today the promenade features a huge effigy of Sandino, some 500 feet (152 meters) high, which makes quite an impression when its sides are lit up at night. Also, there is a tank that the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini gave to the dictator Anastasio Somoza García. Likewise, a canopy cable crosses the crater where the lagoon is located and goes down from the top to the bottom of it. The hill is crossed from southwest to northeast by a seismic fault, which activated the earthquake of December 23, 1972, called the Tiscapa fault. In addition, other faults cross the old part of the city such as the geological fault of the National Stadium, of the Banks, and others outside the area such as the faults of the Calasanz, Divina Pastora, Ramírez Goyena, Bautista, Americano Nicaraguense schools, etc.

The Asososca Lagoon is the most important source of drinking water for Managua and is located to the west of the city between the Sur and Nueva a León highways. Because it is located deep in a volcanic crater, it is difficult to see the lagoon from afar, but on its southern side is one of the oldest walks in Managua called "Las Piedrecitas", with spectacular views of Asosoca and Xolotlán. The Nicaraguan Aqueduct and Sewer Company (ENACAL) has its headquarters on the eastern side of it.

Another of the capital's lagoons is Nejapa, also located next to the Carretera Sur. Nejapa, despite being located deep within another crater of an extinct volcano, is shallow and not possible to swim in. Sometimes all the water in the lagoon has evaporated during the summer.

The fourth lagoon is Acahualinca. This is small, shallow and is located near Lake Xolotlán, next to the neighborhood of the same name. Nor is it possible to swim in it because it is contaminated.

Just 13 kilometers from Managua are the Apoyeque and Xiloá lagoons within the Chiltepe Peninsula Nature Reserve.

More sites of interest here

Current Managua

Historical center

Current historic center of Managua

For decades, the old center of Managua was occupied mostly by vacant lots and large car parks next to government buildings, due to the presence of geological faults. In recent years, parks have been restored and recreational and leisure facilities built in the city area, making it more attractive. In it are buildings that survived the 1972 earthquake and are now an attraction, including:

• The Plaza de la Revolución framed by the most representative and emblematic buildings of the Nation.
• The Palace of Culture, a former National Palace, is another cultural and historical stop; it contains the National Museum "Diocletian Chávez", also the National Library "Rubén Darío" and the National Library along with the General Archive of the Nation.
• The old Cathedral of Santiago de Managua neoclassical style, built from 1928 to 1938 in concrete whose iron structure was brought from Belgium, survived the earthquake of March 31, 1931 and was damaged by the earthquake of December 23, 1972. He was abandoned for a long time although he is now given more attention, for security he has been closed to the public since 2000. In 1991 the construction of the New Cathedral of Managua began.
• The Town House or Presidential House built for the purpose of being the Presidential Office, is located opposite the north side of the former Plaza de La República.
• The Central Park located on the west side of the same square contains several monuments and the so-called Temple of Music.
• Rubén Darío Park where the monument to the greatest poet of Nicaragua is lifted.
• The Rubén Darío National Theatre, is the most important artistic and cultural building in the country and in it has been presented by national and international artists, who have given excellent concerts, plays and exhibitions, among other cultural activities and shows of all kinds. It also houses a permanent exhibition of the pictorial collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art "Julio Cortázar".
• National Pantheon of Nicaragua, former San Pedro Apostle cemetery in Managua, is the nation's historical heritage.

Managua Boardwalk

Plaza 22 de Agosto, Managua

In addition to the historic center, you can visit the new Malecón de Managua, which consists of two works built on the coast of Lake Xolotlán, which are:

• Puerto Salvador Allende, with restaurants for international tastes, bars, discos and recreation areas for all ages, is the anchor point of the cruise «Xolotlán's girlfriend» that sails through the lake.

• Paseo Xolotlán, a villa designed with a more relaxed atmosphere, offers amazing views of the lake and a historic tour of the old Managua, through scale models of ancient buildings of the city.

Historic buildings

Other buildings of historical interest that have been refurbished and remodeled are:

• The National Bank of Nicaragua building today National Assembly of Nicaragua.
• The Bank of America building that today houses offices of the legislature.
• The building of the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute (INSS).
• The Communications Palace that houses the Nicaraguan Post Offices.
• The Zacarías Guerra building houses administrative offices of INSS.
• The old Intercontinental Hotel today Crowne Plaza Managua.
• The former National Stadium today Stanley Cayasso Stadium has been the official headquarters of several world baseball championships, highlighting the events of 1948, 1972 and 1994.

New Center

National Stadium Dennis Martínez

After the 1972 earthquake Managua grew, the economic center was dispersed in various areas with a small percentage of productivity, but a high level of development has been noted in the area of the Carretera a Masaya or the Paseo Naciones Unidas, known as the New Center of Managua and integrated by different zones such as:

• Living area: is the most recent of all and is located behind the shopping center Galleries Santo Domingo. This area has been booming since 2005 because it is very complete. It has a nightclub, taverns, restaurants and more. In this area there are mixed places of fun, residential, and a financial district in formation.
• Hippos Zone: brings together a set of restaurants, taverns and clubs with different themes.
• Zona Rosa: they are composed mostly by casinos and nightclubs.

Attractions

Education and hotels

Universities

See: CNU: Legally Constituted Universities of the National Council of Universities

León and Managua are the two cities with the most agglutinations of university houses. The main universities of the city are:

National University of Engineering.

Central American University.

Universidad Politécnica de Nicaragua

• UNAN: National Autonomous University of Nicaragua: Map
• UNI: National University of Engineering: Map
• UCA: Central American University: Map
• UNA: Agrarian National University
• UNICA: Catholic University Redemptoris Mater
• AC: American College
• UAM: American University
• UPOLI: Polytechnic University of Nicaragua Map
• UNICIT: Universidad Iberoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología
• UHISPAM: Universidad Hispanoamericana
• UTM: University Thomas More
• UNIVALLE: University of the Valley
• IUCN: Central University of Nicaragua
• UDO: University of the West, Managua
• UdeM: University of Managua
• UCC: University of Commercial Sciences
• UNIJJAR: University Jean Jacques Rousseau
• UNIDES: International University for Sustainable Development
• ULAM: University of the Americas
• UPONIC: Universidad Popular de Nicaragua
• UENIC: Universidad Evangélica Nicaragüense - Martin Luther King Jr.
• UCEM: Universidad Centroamericana de Ciencias Empresariales, Nicaragua
• UCYT: Nicaraguan University of Science and Technology

Hotels

Sports

Baseball is by far the most popular sport in Nicaragua, followed by soccer and boxing. The Dennis Martinez National Stadium is home to many games of the Boer Indians baseball team. At the time of its construction in the late 1960s, it was the most modern stadium in Central America. The baseball league has 34 teams.

There has been a growing interest from fans in small football or "foosball" between adolescents and adults. The new private courts have played an important role in promoting amateur games and tournaments. At a professional level, the national soccer team has not yet had the public support or international projection of its regional counterparts such as the teams of Costa Rica, Honduras or El Salvador. However, with the support of FIFA, the first National Soccer Stadium is being built in Managua.

In Managua there are two golf courses, the best known is Nejapa Golf & Country Club.

Managua is home to the Costa Caribe basketball team. The team reached the Final Four of the 2016 Central American League of Basketball Clubs.

Twin cities

Managua has twenty-three sister cities, according to Sister Cities, Inc. (SCI):

Predecessor: Lisbon	Ibero-American Capital of Culture 1995	Successor: Montevideo
Predecessor: Bogotá	Ibero-American Capital of Culture 2008	Successor: La Paz