Diriamba
Encyclopedia
Diriamba is a municipality
in the Carazo
department
of Nicaragua
, with a population of 31,200 (2005). It is located to the west of Jinotepe
.
The city is well known in the country by a number of idiosyncratic events and landmarks, as well as its mild weather, rich agricultural lands and jovial people.
The city celebrates the life and story of the Chorotega chieftain named Diriangen, and famed by his struggle against the invasion by the Spanish conquistadors.
During the month of January, the city celebrates the annual festival of San Sebastian, Diriamba's patron saint. The week-long celebration culminates with the marching of El Gueguense
, a complex dance incorporating both Christian and pagan traditions in a satirical criticism to the Spanish colony. The Gueguense is the first precolonial literary figure in Nicaraguan history. It was allegedly written by an unknown author in the 17th century. The storyline hails back to the years of the colony and by confusing Spanish and Nahuatl word sounding alike, it makes fun of Spanish authorities.
The city is also home to the Diriangen Soccer Club, a traditional powerhouse in Nicaraguan professional soccer.
Diriamba is home to three principal churches, one of them being La Basilica de San Sebastian, the foundation stone was laid out in 1891, but the Basilica inaugurated until 1939. Other important landmarks are the clock tower and the former site of the El Aguacate hydroelectric dam, now simply a waterfall.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in the Carazo
Carazo (department)
Carazo is a department in Nicaragua. It covers an area of 1,081.40 km² and has a population of 177,100 . The capital is Jinotepe.- Municipalities :# Diriamba# Dolores# El Rosario# Jinotepe# La Conquista# La Paz de Carazo# San Marcos...
department
Departments of Nicaragua
Nicaragua is a unitary republic, and for administrative purposes, it is divided into 15 departments and two self-governing regions based on the Spanish model:-Zelaya Department:...
of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, with a population of 31,200 (2005). It is located to the west of Jinotepe
Jinotepe
Jinotepe is a city in Nicaragua, located in Department of Carazo in the South Pacific region of Nicaragua at the municipality of Jinotepe. It borders with Managua, Masaya, Granada, and Rivas.It is a sister city of Santa Cruz, California, United States....
.
The city is well known in the country by a number of idiosyncratic events and landmarks, as well as its mild weather, rich agricultural lands and jovial people.
The city celebrates the life and story of the Chorotega chieftain named Diriangen, and famed by his struggle against the invasion by the Spanish conquistadors.
During the month of January, the city celebrates the annual festival of San Sebastian, Diriamba's patron saint. The week-long celebration culminates with the marching of El Gueguense
El Güegüense
El Güegüense is a satirical drama and was the first literary work of post-Columbian Nicaragua. It is regarded as one of Latin America's most distinctive colonial-era expressions and as Nicaragua's signature folkloric masterpiece combining music, dance and theater...
, a complex dance incorporating both Christian and pagan traditions in a satirical criticism to the Spanish colony. The Gueguense is the first precolonial literary figure in Nicaraguan history. It was allegedly written by an unknown author in the 17th century. The storyline hails back to the years of the colony and by confusing Spanish and Nahuatl word sounding alike, it makes fun of Spanish authorities.
Geography
The city's elevation (just above 500 meters above sea level), and the geography of the cordillera upon which it sits, lend it a constantly mild weather (though notoriously windy January through March). The principal township is surrounded by hills populated by diversified tropical dry deciduous/evergreen forest, fertile coffee plantations, brilliant rivers,also idyllic beaches at a short drive of 45 minutes on a two lane road.The city is also home to the Diriangen Soccer Club, a traditional powerhouse in Nicaraguan professional soccer.
Diriamba is home to three principal churches, one of them being La Basilica de San Sebastian, the foundation stone was laid out in 1891, but the Basilica inaugurated until 1939. Other important landmarks are the clock tower and the former site of the El Aguacate hydroelectric dam, now simply a waterfall.