ManaguaCapital
Nicaragua · Country profile
Managua is the sprawling, resilient capital of Nicaragua, the wide city of the western lowlands that spreads its low, green-roofed districts along the southern shore of the great lake of the Managua, framed by the twin volcanoes of the Momotombo and the Santiago. The capital of the country since the mid nineteenth century, rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1972, it is a breezy, informal metropolis of the broad avenues, the sunken gardens, the mural-covered walls and the scattered modernist landmarks, without the dense colonial grid of the older Central American capitals. The lakefront of the town, the old cathedral in ruins, the squares of the revolution and the markets of the city anchor the essential visits, while the markets, the food stalls and the music of the town carry the everyday Nicaraguan life. Open, hot and profoundly resilient, Managua is the beating heart of the lakes and the volcanoes of Nicaragua.
About Managua
Managua is the capital of Nicaragua. The city's documented population is around 1,055,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Nicaraguan Córdoba (NIO) and Spanish is spoken; the dialling code is +505.
The Lakefront of the Capital and the Squares of the Revolution
Managua is a wide, spread-out capital where the essential circuit moves between the lakefront of the old centre, the squares of the revolution and the busy markets of the town, with the monuments and the museums of the country anchoring the curated days. The ruins of the old cathedral, the lakeside avenue and the great murals and memorials of the revolutionary past carry the city history, while the markets of the capital, from the enormous craft and produce bazaar of the centre to the flower markets of the east, run the daily commerce. The viewpoints of the surrounding hills and the volcanoes of the horizon, and the lagoons and the beaches of the nearby region, fill the days beyond the crowded urban core.
The Ruins of the Cathedral and the Markets of the Town
The climate of the capital is the hot, dry tropical of the Pacific lowlands, with the burning, breezy season of the northern winter and the rainy season of the southern summer, when the air clears and the whole city turns green. The cordoba is the currency, with the Spanish the language of the town and the English growing in the tourist districts. The lakefront, the squares and the market make the core circuit, and the islands and the volcanoes of the region lie within an easy drive of the suburbs. Light cotton clothing, insect protection and comfortable shoes for the long avenues complete the sensible preparation for the wide capital.
The Lagoons and the Volcanoes of the Region
The old cathedral of the capital, the great ruined cathedral of the centre that stands with its torn dome and its empty shell on the lakefront plaza, is the potent symbol of the earthquake that reshaped the city, while the new metropolitan cathedral, with its pale concrete domes on the eastern avenue, stands as the largest church of the whole Central America. The square of the revolution and the lakefront boulevard, with the enormous fresco of the heroes, the palm groves and the curving water of the great lake, give the ceremonial heart of the city, and the markets of the town, including the celebrated craft and food market of the old centre with its hammocks, its leather and its street kitchens, run the vivid daily trade of the country. The islands of the lake, with their fishing villages, and the volcano of the Momotombo with its perfect cone, frame the unforgettable landscape of the capital of the lakes.
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- Country
- Nicaragua
- Population
- 1,055,000
- Capital
- Managua
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- Nicaraguan Córdoba (NIO)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +505
- Country code
- NI
Frequently asked questions
Is Managua the capital of Nicaragua?
Yes — Managua is the capital of Nicaragua.
What currency do I need in Managua?
The local currency is the Nicaraguan Córdoba (NIO). Languages spoken in Nicaragua include Spanish.
What is the dialling code for Nicaragua?
The international dialling code for Nicaragua is +505.
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