By Carolina Urbina

Ideas for shopping smart

By Carolina Urbina S.

Nicaragua is a nation with a rich diversity of handicrafts as beautiful as they are practical. 

If you’re interested in shopping, there are many cities where find handricafts as

Masaya and surrounding towns, as Masatepe, Diriomo, Nandasmo are called white villages and acquire elaborate pottery, intricately woven hammocks, wood carvings, ceramic miniatures, leatherwork, and embroidered guayaberas. It is situated approximately 14 km west of Granada and 31 km southeast from Managua. The town of Masaya is just east of Masaya Volcano an active volcano from which the city takes its name.

Among the products sold are wooden dishes, tiny rum bottles, Nicaraguan t - Shirts, leather products, local paintings, and more artisans.

The craft market, also known as Mercado Viejo, is certainly the place to buy arts in crafts in Masaya. It's a safe and comfortable place to shop, geared toward tourists. But of course this means that prices are little higher. Here you'll find all manner of delightful handicrafts and the best of what Nicaragua's talented craftspeople have to offer. It's the main reason to come to Masaya and even if you don't buy anything, an enjoyable and colourful experience.

The most famous craft in Masaya are beautiful cotton hammocks, perhaps the finest in the world. The price depends on quality and size.

The market is open daily from 8 am to 7pm.

Another city where you can find handicrafts is the city of Granada; Granada is a city in western Nicaragua. With an estimated population of 110,326 (2003), it is Nicaragua's fifth most populous city. Granada is historically one of Nicaragua's most important cities, economically and politically. It has a rich colonial heritage, seen in its architecture and structure.

The important handicraft traditions in Granada include ceramics, wrought iron, cloth, leather, and musical instruments. Moorish influence can be found in many of them, such as marquetry, decorating of furniture and wooden objects with precious inlaid woods; metalworking, such as wrought iron or repoussé designs in copper; wrought iron lanterns, lamps, metal grating, and grille work.

The Old Market Hall caters mostly to the locals but is worth a visit. Its collection of locally manufactured and imported stuff spills into the street near the Managua Bus Station. For more adventure, just enter the faded green facade entrance.

Near the Cathedral there is a market of Alcaiceria with oriental atmosphere where you can buy pottery. Another site is the Cuesta de Gomerez and Albaycin with ceramic shops.

There are several handicrafts stores of precious woods in Granada. 

Some of them are:

• Francisco Rienda: Address: Cuesta de Chapiz, near Paseo de los Tristes. 
• Angel Poveoano Alonso: Address: Cruz de Arqueros 17, Albaicin district.
• Hermanos Lopez: Lamps and shop windows. Address: Plaza de las Castillas 7, Granada. 
• Hermanos Diaz: wrought iron shop is in the same area that Hermanos Lopez, Address: Pages 14, near Carretera de la Murcia.

Managua city is the capital city and economic center, has more shopping malls, traditional markets and supermarkets. Most important Shopping malls are:

• Galerías Santo Domingo:

Located at Km 7 Masaya highway, is the largest and most exclusive in the country, with over 130 stores with international brands, entertainment for all ages, has a Zona Viva, with the best restaurants, sport bars and the latest club Moods.

Among its services are: Shops, banks, ATMs, cafes, food court, restaurants, wine bar, pharmacy, phone center, game center, club, 10 cinemas, Wi-fi and more ...

• Metrocentro:

Located on Masaya highway is one of the most visited, with 120 shops and a wide range of services such as shopping, financial, immigration and migration office, food court, 6 cinemas, free internet access, playgrounds and hosts fashion events, trade shows and more.

• Multicentro Las Americas:

Located in Bello Horizonte, is the second largest, has 159 stores, banks, supermarket, free internet access, 6 cinemas, food court with 19 restaurants and has a terrace where you can practice adventure sports, it also host variety of events. http://www.lasamericas.com.ni/default.aspx

Centro Comercial Managua:

is the oldest of all, located in Centroamerica neighboor was rebuilt after a fire, and still is very crowded, especially in its traditional shopping nights on wednesdays on the christmas season, which are animated by national music groups.

• Plaza Inter:

is located near the historic center of Managua, has 65 stores, 8 cinemas, food court area and also has a square known as Plaza Maya where concerts and various cultural presentations.

But definitely if you want to venture and meet the traditional markets the best option is:

• Roberto Huembes Market:

one of the most orderly and safe, compared with the rest, is famous because there you can buy handicrafts coming from all around the country, such like the famous hammocks, enjoy typical food and drinks, you will find everything from clothes, grains, fruits, vegetables, plants, household appliances, but the more special is the atmosphere.