Iglesia Xalteva

Iglesia Xalteva sits at the western edge of the colonial centre, its white facade and bell tower marking what was once the boundary between the Spanish quarter and the indigenous Xalteva neighbourhood. The church is quieter and less visited than the cathedral, which makes it a pleasant stop for those who want to avoid the crowds on Parque Central.

The interior has a calm simplicity that the grander cathedral lacks. A small garden alongside the church gives a view of the bell tower and the mountains beyond the city. The surrounding streets in the old Xalteva quarter have some of the most genuinely lived-in colonial architecture in Granada — less restored and more authentic than the main tourist drag.

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A story
Xalteva was the indigenous Chorotega settlement that existed alongside the Spanish colonial city. The church was built at the boundary between the two communities and carries the name of the indigenous quarter. The original church was destroyed by Walker's forces in 1856; the current building is a reconstruction from the late 19th century.

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