Founded in pre-Columbian times by Olmec and Aztec immigrants from modern Mexico, Somoto is the economic and cultural heart of Madriz. It has also become a growing tourist centre since the discovery of Somoto Canyon, located 13 km (8 miles) west of the city. Somoto Municipality has a total population of 40,322, with 21,211 people living in the urban area and 19,111 in 48 nearby communities.[2]
It is known as La Flor de Henequén (the Flower of Henequen) as a result of the cultivation of this crop in the city's environs. It is also renowned for its production of rosquillas somoteñas, crispy corn biscuits with a variety of flavours.[3]
Somoto was settled by Olmec and Aztec peoples from Mexico, and subsequently inhabited by Chorotegas and Nicaraguas. The name Somoto originates from the Nahuatl Tépecxomotl, meaning 'Valley of Geese', while Spanish royal decrees of 1591 give the city's name as Santiago de Tepesomoto. Although the city is now universally known as Somoto, the name Tepesomoto is retained by the volcano overlooking the city to the south and its surrounding Tepesomoto-La Patasta Nature Reserve.[4]
Somoto was granted town status in January 1867 and city status in March 1895. It has been the capital city of Madriz since that department's separation from Nueva Segovia in November 1936.[4]
Somoto's adobe parochial church, formally the Temple of Saint James the Apostle (Templo Santiago Apostól), was established in the heart of Somoto in 1661 opposite the city's parque central (central park); it is therefore one of Nicaragua's oldest surviving church buildings, pre-dating the Cathedral of León by 86 years. However the present façade and bell tower were constructed as recently as 1875.[5] Somoto is also located near the Cacaulí Sanctuary, a site for religious pilgrimage since a boy claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary while collecting firewood in 1990.[6]
Somoto still has fewer than 10 hotels and is not a major stop on the Central American backpacker circuit. Tourists visit Somoto primarily to go tubing in the Monumento Nacional Cañón de Somoto. The Cañón de Somoto is featured on the 50 cordoba banknote and has been mentioned in both the Lonely Planet and Tripadvisor.
Somoto is often credited with being the birthplace of the Rosquilla. A traditional Nicaraguan snack, Rosquillas are made by making rings of cornmeal with a cane sugar center and baking them in large wood-fired cob ovens. Day tours of the Rosquilla factory in Somoto can be arranged and may include samples and a hands-on lesson in their preparation and history.
International relationsedit
The Merced/Somoto Sister City Committee was formed in 1988 by members of the Merced Central America Support Group, who were matched with Somoto by the Nicaraguan Embassy.[2] In March 1992 were granted official sister city status by a unanimous vote of the Merced City Council..
somoto, madriz, somoto, spanish, pronunciation, soˈmoto, city, municipality, located, hills, northern, nicaragua, capital, department, madriz, around, miles, south, west, ocotal, miles, north, west, estelí, sits, american, highway, around, miles, from, hondura. Somoto Spanish pronunciation soˈmoto is a city and a municipality located in the hills of northern Nicaragua and capital of the department of Madriz It is around 20 km 12 miles south west of Ocotal and 51 km 32 miles north west of Esteli It sits on the Pan American Highway around 16 km 10 miles from the Honduran border crossing at El Espino SomotoMunicipalityThe Parroquia Santiago in central Somoto FlagSealSomotoLocation in NicaraguaCoordinates 13 28 N 86 34 W 13 467 N 86 567 W 13 467 86 567Country NicaraguaDepartmentMadrizArea Municipality180 sq mi 466 km2 Population 2022 estimate 1 Municipality40 322 Density220 sq mi 87 km2 Urban21 211ClimateAwFounded in pre Columbian times by Olmec and Aztec immigrants from modern Mexico Somoto is the economic and cultural heart of Madriz It has also become a growing tourist centre since the discovery of Somoto Canyon located 13 km 8 miles west of the city Somoto Municipality has a total population of 40 322 with 21 211 people living in the urban area and 19 111 in 48 nearby communities 2 It is known as La Flor de Henequen the Flower of Henequen as a result of the cultivation of this crop in the city s environs It is also renowned for its production of rosquillas somotenas crispy corn biscuits with a variety of flavours 3 Contents 1 History 2 Tourism 3 International relations 4 Sports 5 References 6 External linksHistory editSomoto was settled by Olmec and Aztec peoples from Mexico and subsequently inhabited by Chorotegas and Nicaraguas The name Somoto originates from the Nahuatl Tepecxomotl meaning Valley of Geese while Spanish royal decrees of 1591 give the city s name as Santiago de Tepesomoto Although the city is now universally known as Somoto the name Tepesomoto is retained by the volcano overlooking the city to the south and its surrounding Tepesomoto La Patasta Nature Reserve 4 Somoto was granted town status in January 1867 and city status in March 1895 It has been the capital city of Madriz since that department s separation from Nueva Segovia in November 1936 4 Somoto s adobe parochial church formally the Temple of Saint James the Apostle Templo Santiago Apostol was established in the heart of Somoto in 1661 opposite the city s parque central central park it is therefore one of Nicaragua s oldest surviving church buildings pre dating the Cathedral of Leon by 86 years However the present facade and bell tower were constructed as recently as 1875 5 Somoto is also located near the Cacauli Sanctuary a site for religious pilgrimage since a boy claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary while collecting firewood in 1990 6 The famous Nicaraguan singer songwriters and brothers Carlos Mejia Godoy and Luis Enrique Mejia Godoy were born in Somoto as was their nephew Luis Enrique 7 Tourism editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed January 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message nbsp Somoto CanyonSomoto still has fewer than 10 hotels and is not a major stop on the Central American backpacker circuit Tourists visit Somoto primarily to go tubing in the Monumento Nacional Canon de Somoto The Canon de Somoto is featured on the 50 cordoba banknote and has been mentioned in both the Lonely Planet and Tripadvisor Somoto is often credited with being the birthplace of the Rosquilla A traditional Nicaraguan snack Rosquillas are made by making rings of cornmeal with a cane sugar center and baking them in large wood fired cob ovens Day tours of the Rosquilla factory in Somoto can be arranged and may include samples and a hands on lesson in their preparation and history International relations editThe Merced Somoto Sister City Committee was formed in 1988 by members of the Merced Central America Support Group who were matched with Somoto by the Nicaraguan Embassy 2 In March 1992 were granted official sister city status by a unanimous vote of the Merced City Council Somoto also has links with the following nbsp Lasarte Oria Basque Country Spain nbsp Llodio Basque Country Spain nbsp Leganes Madrid Spain nbsp Vic Catalonia Spain nbsp Fougeres Brittany FranceSports editThe Real Madriz football team is based in Somoto References edit Citypopulation de Population of Somoto municipality a b City of Merced Merced Somoto History Archived 2012 08 01 at archive today Via Nica History of Somoto Rosquillas a b Alcaldia de Somoto History Parroquia Santiago de Somoto Via Nica Cacauli Sanctuary Biografias y Vidas Carlos Mejia GodoyExternal links editWebsite of Somoto Madriz Non official site for tours of Somoto Canyon13 29 N 86 35 W 13 483 N 86 583 W 13 483 86 583 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Somoto Madriz amp oldid 1166722649, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
