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Matagalpa
Sights
Getting There
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Matagalpa Matagalpa is a northern city of Nicaragua, situated 130 Km. north of Managua, at 3000 feet over sea level. It is known for its cool weather, and cloud forest near the city. Population of the City: 105,000 inhab. Population of the Province of Matagalpa: 500,000 inhab. It is located in the coffee region, in the northern highlands of the country. You can get there from Managua taking "Carretera Norte" (North Highway). It takes 1.5 hours driving from Managua International Aiport,or 2 hours from the Capital city of Managua. Matagalpa is an Indian name, meaning "Lets go where the rocks are" (Father Guillermo Kiene,liguist), because it´s located on the side of Rio Grande, called "rocky river" (Kiwaska) by the Indians. Matagalpa was one of Indian settlements discovered by the Spanish in 1542 when they were trying to find the passage to the Noth Sea. As the Spanish did not find gold there, the Tonw was settled only by Dominican and Mercedarian missioners accompanied with few soldiers. It remained like that till gold was found in 1808, but it was not exploted till 1850s when some gold propectors stop here ( Mr.Painter from England, Dr. Sigo from USA, Leopold Wassmer from Germany). Some other interesting people stop here on their way to the Californian mines. For example Georges Choiseul Praslin, who is thought to be the famous Par of France Duc Choiseul Praslin who escaped from Paris in 1847 after a misterious crime commited on Duchese Praslin. Matagalpa is also known because of the many German, English and North American immigrants who came here to settle and grow coffee since 1880s. In this city you will meet many people with last names like Hawkins, Kühl, Weimer, Alm, Kollerbohn, Bolt, Fley, O'Rourk,Hayn, Richardson, etc. Matagalpa is the only city in the country having a Cemetery for Foreigners, itis worth visiting a few minutes walking distance south of the city) From 1903 to 1905 a weird steam locomotive with 6 wagon transporting coffee ran from Matagalpa to the port of Corinto at the Pacific Ocean, it did not run on steel rails, it ran on the dirt itself, so people called it "Terrocarril" (railess train), it was probably unique in the world. You can see photographs of the Terrocarril in Selva Negra Musseun, 10 kilometers north of the city of Matagalpa on the highway to Jinotega. You can also take "La Ruta del Cafe" (Coffee Tour), visit the Coffee Musseum in the center of the city and ask for Cantur (Camara de Turismo). In Matagalpa there are many restaurants and hotels, of various prices ( Hotel Lomas de San Martin, Hotel, Caiba, Hotel Fountainblue, Campestre Barcelona, and 10 kilometers on the highway to Jinotega is Selva Negra Mountain Resort) Unique to Matagalpa is the Indian Black Ceramic (Ceramica Negra)you can find in local stores. Also the remaining Matagalpa Indian Community of El Chile, 12 kilometers from Matagalpa. The Indian Ethnic group known as "Matagalpan", is not a Meso-Americam race of Indian, but of Chibcha Origin, they live in the central highlands of the country from Nueva Segovia to Chontales Province, they had their own language which linguists are trying to rescue from about 500 written words found in a antique document file in Brinton Library in Philadelphia,USA. They became famous when they saved Nicaragua from William Walker takeover in San Jacinto battle in 1856 "Matagalpa Washed Coffee" is famous worldwide because its quality, chocolate flavor, and shade grown to protect nature. Some Matagalpa coffee farms has established international brand names. Matagalpa is the second most populated Province of the country, it has 6 representatives to the National Congress, it has given to the nation some of its best citizens like Benito Morales (1803-1890)Chief of State in 1833. Nazario Vega (1825-1911)Governor of the Province in the 1860s and leader of the construction of Matagalpa Cathedral (1874-1895). Francisco Amador(1828-1910) was the Treasurer of Ejercito del Septentrion that defeated the filibusteers in 1856. Ruben Dario (1867-1916) one of the most famous poets of the Spanish language was born in the town of Metapa,Matagalpa. Bartolome Martinez, President of Nicaragua in 1923-1924. Carlos Fonseca Amador (1936-1975)founder of the Sandinista Philosophy that helped ending Somoza regime. Coffee was fisrt planted in Matagalpa in 1852 and is now the mayor income of its population, a woman was the first coffee producer of northern Nicaragua highlands, Katharina Braun Elster (1830-1887), her tomb and lapid can be visited in San Ramon´s Cemetery 10 kilometers from the city of Matagalpa. (Posted by Eddy Kühl,selvanegra@cablenet.com.ni)
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