San Rafael del Norte is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

and a town in the

Jinotega Jinotega () (derived from Náhuatl: ''Xiotenko'' ‘place next to the jiñocuajo trees’) is the capital city of the Department of Jinotega in north-central Nicaragua. The city is located in a long valley surrounded by the cool climate and Da ...

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

. The town is located north of

Managua ) , settlement_type = Capital city , motto = , image_map = , mapsize = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Nicara ...

, the capital of

Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the cou ...

. Elevated at over 3,000 feet, it is the highest town in Nicaragua, which attracts tourists from many countries for hiking, swimming and vacations.

Description

San Rafael del Norte lies to the North of Jinotega, about a forty-minute bus ride along a road that is paved. The Catholic Church in town is home to several murals illustrating the usual tenets of the Catholic faith. One, in particular is noteworthy. The mural showing the Temptation of Jesus in the desert has achieved a local notoriety because many observers have noted that the face of the devil strongly resembles that of current Nicaraguan President

Daniel Ortega José Daniel Ortega Saavedra (; born 11 November 1945) is a Nicaraguans, Nicaraguan revolutionary and politician serving as President of Nicaragua since 2007. Previously he was leader of Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990, first as coordinator of the ...

. As the mural was painted in the 1960s, this similarity is either prescient or coincidental. The murals were painted by a Swiss Artist, who was invited by Brother Odorico D'Andrea. an Italian priest who came to San Rafael del North in 1953. He was responsible for building health centers, bridges, as well as projects which provided drinking water and electrification. After his death in 1990, his body was found to be corrupt, which is usually considered one of the signs of sainthood. His stone casket lies in Templo Tepayec, a monument at the end of the main street through town, with a very visible set of steps leading up to it. The small town of San Rafael del Norte is famous for being the birthplace of

Blanca Aráuz Blanca Stella Aráuz Pineda (25 May 1909 – 2 June 1933) is the first National Heroine of Nicaragua. She was noted as a telegraphist who assisted the guerrilla forces during the United States occupation of Nicaragua and who negotiated with Pres ...

, Augusto C. Sandino's wife. This national hero, who fought against the American intervention on Nicaragua, fell in love with her in 1927 while she was a telegrapher in town. Blanca's family house is currently a museum with historical objects, such as newspaper articles, Sandino's letters and American weapons. This museum recently closed because the roof of the house caved in. Another famous inhabitant of this town has Odorico D'Andrea. This Italian priest got here in 1954 and played an important role in the development of San Rafael del Norte. He help organizing health centers, providing clear water and electricity to people, among other things. D' Andrea, who died in 1990, was buried at the Virgen del Tepeyac church, which also offers nice views of the city. This priest also gave an important impulse to the renovation of San Rafael del Norte's church, located in the center of the town. The building is notorious for its colorful stained glass and impressive size, which contrasts with the size of the town itself. Furthermore, there is a private natural reserve in this municipality: El Jaguar, commonly known and visited for its many trails, which are suitable for birdwatching tours. It also has lodging options for tourists and a biological station for students and biologists. Another interesting site if the coffee farm called Kilimanjaro, where visitors learn about the coffee production, arrange a horseback ride, among other activities. It is possible to stay overnight at this farm.

Hotel

*Hotel Casita San Payo (505) 2784 2327 *Hotel Casa Real (505) 2784 2422

Transportation

Local bus

Jinotega-Estelí-Yali Routes *Trans. San Jose *Trans. Zelaya *Trans. Gloria *Trans. El Jocotillo *Trans. Chepita *Trans. Jesus

Shuttle bus

San Rafael to Jinotega *Trans. Isabelia *Trans. Jaime

Express bus

* Expreso Arauz – San Rafael- Managua Dep: 4:00 A.M Arr: 7:30 A.M – Managua- San Rafael Dep: 3:30 P.M Arr: 7:00 P.M

Radio stations and communications

* Radio Isabelia 89.3 FM
Enitel
(phone and internet)

Quick stats

*Department: Jinotega *Population 16,320 people *Surface 606.00 km² *Distance 185 km from Managua *Urban/rural 24% / 76%

Attractions

*Canopy La Brellera *El Jaguar Private Natural Reserve *Tepeyac Retreat Center *Los Encuentros *Piscina Sabana Grande *Waterfalls *Laguna Verde *San Rafael Cathedral *Kilimanjaro Tourist Farm

References

External links

Official website
* http://www.jinotegalife.com {{Coord, 13, 13, N, 86, 07, W, region:NI_type:city, display=title Municipalities of the Jinotega Department