• United States!

    United States: Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Go Now!

    United States
    Explore the vast openness and wildlife found roaming in the western United States, including Theodore Roosevelt National Park (pictured) in North Dakota. Begin Your Journey!

  • Trinidad & Tobago!

    Trinidad & Tobago: Beautiful Coastline. Go Now!

    Trinidad & Tobago
    These Caribbean islands mix Indian, African, and European cultures alongside beautiful beaches. Go Now!

  • St. Kitts & Nevis!

    St. Kitts & Nevis: Nevis Island. Go Now!

    St. Kitts & Nevis
    This island nation mixes aspects of European, African, and Caribbean culture... not to mention incredible beaches. Go Now!

  • Honduras!

    Honduras: Children. Go Now!

    Honduras
    The original banana republic, Honduras has made a name for itself with the banana trade; however foreign influences have also vastly altered the culture. Go Now!

  • Mexico!

    Mexico: Sunrise over the mountains in Puerto Vallarta. Go Now!

    Mexico
    Although many people just go for the beaches, Mexico offers impressive mountain vistas (pictured in Puerto Vallarta), great food, and historic ruins that compete with the best in the world. Begin Your Journey!

  • Barbados!

    Barbados: Pier on the beach. Go Now!

    Barbados
    This Caribbean island has hints of British culture, but is wholly Caribbean as well. Explore Barbados!

Architecture of Nicaragua

Nicaraguan Architecture - Matagalpa
Matagalpa

Nicaragua has almost no ancient architecture as many of the indigenous people built from wood and other perishable materials that have not lasted. However, these ancient styles are still used today in an altered form as many of the local people continue to use traditional building techniques and materials for construction. In varying parts of the country there are houses built from clay, mud, adobe, and wood.

Nicaraguan Architecture - Iglesia de la Recoleccion
Iglesia de la Recoleccion

The Spanish arrival in the 1500s forever altered the architecture and most cities today were built in the Spanish style and with the Spanish's ideal urban planning models. Nearly every colonial Spanish city in Nicaragua is centered around a main square, which is bordered by a church and government buildings, although cities in the mountains don't follow this rule and neither does the capital of Managua. The churches were generally built in the Spanish styles of the time, leading to a large number of Baroque churches.

Among the finest buildings from colonial Spanish rule, the cities of Managua, Leon, and Granada have some of the best. Leon has perhaps the most authentic Spanish feel as it was the former capital, but this title has since shifted, leaving the city much as it was under Spanish rule.

In more recent times modern and post-modern architecture have made an impact as new building techniques and styles have been introduced to the country. Oddly, this architecture is mostly being built in the outskirts of large cities and in the center of newer cities, primarily along the coasts as historic cities attempt to maintain their traditional Spanish architectural roots.

This page was last updated: March, 2013