16 de Enero de 1749.
Calle Real Xalteva, 6 cuadras al Oeste de la Iglesia de La Merced
Granada, Granada, Nicaragua
Horario: Lunes a Domingo (8a.m. – 5p.m.)
Admisión: Gratis
Recuperado Centro Turístico y de Convenciones “La Pólvora”.
Originalmente, “La Pólvora” fue construida por gobernadores españoles en el año 1748, y se inauguró el 16 de enero de 1749.
La edificación fue elevada con el fin de servir de almacén de pólvora con que se había de surtir posiciones militares como El Castillo del Río San Juan, y además para suplir las necesidades militares de la ciudad a mediados del siglo XVIII.
Those pirates sure were a nuisance. So much so that the city decided to build a fort in 1748 to guard munitions; pólvora is Spanish for gunpowder. Its sturdy, medieval structure with thick oak doors and stone walls also came in handy as an army garrison and then a grisly jail during the Somoza dictatorship.
Originally called the Fortaleza de Armas when it was constructed in 1748, this lavishly turreted Spanish fortress still has the best views in town, over ancient, water-stained church domes all the way to Lago de Nicaragua.
The five towers of the La Polvora Fortress (Fortaleza La Polvora) once served as the lookout posts of this Spanish fort, but today visitors make the most of the excellent views for photo opportunities rather than scouting for incoming pirates. Its original purpose was to safeguard the city’s supply of gunpowder. Later, the sturdy fort was used as a military barrack and then a jail.
Today, the Fortaleza La Polvora is a museum with a regularly rotating schedule of exhibits. You may not know whether to expect a military display or artwork when you go in, but you can always count on being able to climb the fort’s towers – at no charge – to get a great view of the city and the nearby Mombacho Volcano. The Fortaleza La Polvora is in the historic center of Granada, on Calle Real.
It is now a military museum and makes for an interesting visit — you can even climb one of its five small towers for views of the city. It has no fixed open hours, but you should be able to enter if you arrive during daylight hours.
The fortress was built in 1748 by Luis Diez Navarro. First used as a deposit for gunpowder and explosives, it became a prison during the somocista reign, then the headquarters of the municipal police during the Sandinista period. Today, it’s a kind of open-air museum. Impressive appearance with walls in Adobe and high turrets.
REFERENCIAS:
- Granada abre renovado centro turístico y de convenciones – 7/Oct/2015 (El Nuevo Diario de Nicaragua)
- Fortaleza de la Pólvora (Frommer’s)
- FORTALEZA DE LA PÓLVORA (Petit Futé)
- FORTALEZA LA PÓLVORA (Hotel Plaza Colón)
- Fortaleza La Polvora (Lonely Planet)
- La Polvora Fortress (Fortaleza La Polvora) (viator)
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