English cemetery
The name of the municipality of San Juan del Norte (today San Juan de Nicaragua), comes from one of the vessels of the expedition of Captain Machuca de Suazo y Calero, explorer of the "Desaguadero" (San Juan River).
In 1538 San Juan was under Spanish rule, whose governor was Rodrigo Contreras. During the Spanish domination, San Juan stood out for its commercial boom, calling it a free port in 1796, with the same prerogatives that the ports of Omoa, in Honduras, and that of Santo Tomás de Castilla, in Guatemala enjoyed at that time.
On January 1, 1848, the English occupied San Juan militarily. Shortly before, the Mosco king had changed the name to San Juan by Greytown, in homage to the then Governor of Jamaica Sir Charles Gray. Greytown became in practice a free port, with its own local governor and diplomatic representations from various countries.
In 1983 due to the effects of the war, the population of San Juan del Norte emigrated to Costa Rica and a minority to Managua, Granada and Bluefields. In the 90s, the reconstruction of the new San Juan del Norte began, with 30 families repatriated and 20 demobilized from the war.
The current population is a cultural mix, including mestizos from the Pacific coast, mestizos and criollos from the Atlantic, and indigenous Rama groups. The Rama Indians are dedicated to artisanal fishing, they live simply, the Rama Kay children come into contact with the calm waters that surround them since they can remember.
Craft trades
Its inhabitants are dedicated to artisanal fishing and agriculture.
Legends
artisanal fishing
The residents who live in the community of Río Indio say that the Canta Gallo protected area bears this name because in this place a rooster could be heard mysteriously singing, every day at midnight, and for this reason it was given the name by Canta Gallo.
Other sites of historical and cultural interest
The Greytown ruins are located just ten minutes by boat from San Juan del Norte. Recognized for its multi-ethnic population (mestizos, branches and blacks), many of them descendants of European, North American and Jamaican migrants who emigrated during the war newspapers, here you can learn about part of their culture and find some lagoons such as El Papayal.
Four cemeteries with graves of British, Spanish, American and people of various nationalities, including a consul of the German Empire from the late XNUMXth century.
North American Cemetery: It is located from north to south of the old city and arose with the death of the sailors of the Sabine frigate that was shipwrecked in the mouth of the river, on November 4, 1859. All its crew died in this frigate, including its captain, Charles Smith. In this cemetery there are vestiges and marble tombstones that can be admired and that preserve their style.
British cemetery: It is located 50 meters south of the North American Cemetery. It was founded in 1872, where people of English nationality are buried.
Spanish or Catholic cemetery: This is where they buried Creoles, Spaniards and residents of the area. Like the other cemeteries, it preserves some marble tombstones.
Historic dredge
Mason cemetery: It is located at the southern end of the airstrip that is in this area, in this cemetery different citizens and nationals who belonged to the secret order of the Masons were buried.
To get to these cemeteries you can do it by panga and take a small path until you reach what in the past was the center of the old town known as Greytown. Funeral buildings are found according to your race, nationality, and religious beliefs.
Historic dredge erected in 1891 where it was planned to build the interoceanic canal. This is the only dredge that remains from the incomplete construction of an interoceanic canal in past centuries, it can be seen in the bay of the same name, as well as the narrow of the canal that could have been the beginning of an interoceanic route.
Canta Gallo Community - Rama Kay: It has a great cultural importance for being the settlement of the descendants of the Rama tribes that inhabited the area in pre-Columbian times, you will be able to know their culture and take a tour of the entire community appreciating the nature and way of life of the populations. Located in the vicinity of the Greytown community.
Gallery
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