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Masaya opens Folklore Museum

Ariadna Ramos | Oct 18, 2012

Folk dancers at the Museums oppening. | Photographer: Ariadna Ramos

Authorities did the opening of the interesting museum and provided information about development route.

The official opening of a Folklore Museum -located in the crafts market- was done in Masaya, as part of the Colonial Route and the Volcano Route. The museum seeks to preserve the culture, legends and traditions of this city. The event was held on October 15th, at a event organized by the town hall, the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute (INTUR) and the Nicaraguan Institute of Culture (INC).

Felix Trejos, the major of Masaya, thanked the Government of Spain for financing the Colonial and Volcano Route, directed specifically to the tourism sector. This route is mainly a development and promotion program, with various elements that were not specified during the event.

According to what was announced, the Spanish government trained 11 entrepreneurs, to provide a quality service. Also 23 local guides were trained to lead future tourist on the most important points of the city; also at 23 maids received this training to improve service at hotels.

Folklore Museum

The idea of a museum, also founded by Spain, was created from the 80’s, when Manuel Silva and his wife María Auxiliadora Valle were interested in preserve Masaya’s cultural traditions. Since last Monday the museum has been opened to the public.

On this museum, visitors can see the different costumes used during the celebrations of the city, and Nicaraguan traditional music, instruments and hand crafts. The cost to enter the museum is C$5 for students, C$10 for Nicaraguans and U$2 for foreigners.

Masaya is known for being one of the cities that has more folkloric expressions in the country, so it has been considered ‘’the folkloric capital of Nicaragua’’. María Auxiliadora Valle, also known as Chilo Verde, is a leading folklorist and professor of folkloric dances of Masaya.

Official ribbon cutting by INTUR and INC presidents, the major and the Spanish ambassador.

Translated by Cynthia Cordero