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Our Lady of Ujarrás Historical Religious Museum Costa Rica

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Museo Histórico Religioso de Nuestra Señora de Ujarrás Costa Rica

Our Lady of Ujarrás Historical Religious Museum Costa Rica arises in the eighties with the idea from the then pastor Jorge Picado, which invites community members to organize and establish a center where they could display items belonging to the past of the canton of Paraiso, Cartago. But over time the idea was abandoned, until 1985, when the priest Gerardo Sanabria arrives to the village, who in the early nineties, continues the museum project, supported by ACUJA (Ujarrás Cultural Association), however, at this time it didn’t open its doors, because they continued researching and preparing the space for it. In 2000, due to renovations in the physical infrastructure of the parish, the museum was transferred and reopened in 2003 at the bottom of the temple, which until today offers to the public the history of the canton of Paraiso, Cartago.

Our Lady of Ujarrás Historical Religious Museum (Museo Histórico Religioso de Nuestra Señora de Ujarrás) has a very high value for the community, as after its doors is locked the history of the canton of Paraiso, from its beginnings in pre-Columbian times (in the Ujarrás valley), its colonization, the discovery of the Ujarrás Virgin (event with high influence in the town’s history), until his subsequent transfer to Paraiso and the growth the town has experienced since then.

The museum has several areas, such as the archaeological which samples how ancestors were and lived in Ujarrás, the peasant and traditional everyday objects used in masquerades at that time, the religious devoted to the Ujarrás Virgin, as well as worship objects and important celebrations; the historical with documents, relocation decrees, scrolls, newspapers, etc. The museum features photographs of ancestors and activities of the village with an area dedicated to Don Florencio del Castillo, his life and importance to our country, and with an Indian grave with petroglyph casket brought from Urasca and rests of the ancient foundations of the temple constructed with Calicanto.

About ACUJA, Ujarrás Cultural Association

It is an association that promotes cultural canton activities and works to rescue and maintain customs and traditions that since past times have characterized the community of Paraiso of Cartago. It has its beginnings in the mid-eighties when the idea to create the museum arose and a group of people reunited to form a committee, but that committee decayed until it is reestablished in 1993, when the idea of the museum re-arises and another group of people is assembled, with the duty to search and organize the cultural heritage of Paraiso and exhibit to any visitor.

Address: northeast side of Paraiso of Cartago Church, district: Paraíso, canton: Paraíso, province: Cartago, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 30201.
GPS Coordinates: 9.838628,-83.865631 (9°50’19.06″N, 83°51’56.27″W)
Ujarras Church Ruins GPS Coordinates: 9.828519,-83.836033 (9°49’42.67″N, 83°50’9.72″W)
Schedule: from Thursdays to Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sundays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: +506 2574-7258

Address map: Click here to view directions from Central Park, San Jose, Costa Rica TO Paraiso of Cartago, Costa Rica at Google Maps

The San José of Orosi Religious Art Museum Costa Rica

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Museo de Arte Religioso de San José de Orosi Costa Rica

The San José of Orosi Religious Art Museum Costa Rica is one of the greatest treasures that the church has as it is proof of colonial Christianity and emphasizes how Costa Rica inherited a very strong religious inclination. It is located next to the temple in an Ancient Franciscan Fathers Convent, construction that dates back to 1743. Both the temple and the museum were built in the late eighteenth century by the Franciscan Fathers and have become the symbol of the colonial era. The buildings are made of adobe and some Calicanto, a mixture of stone, cement, sand and lime. Its exterior is austere, but the interior decor is absolutely baroque with carved and painted wooden sculptures and altarpieces.

The museum opened in 1980 and since then offers visitors a complete picture of the Catholic history of the place. At the San Jose of Orosi Religious Art Museum you will find Colonial religious art manifestations, it’s art collection includes approximately 120 pieces including paintings, hollies, a tomb and many religious objects that are still used in some special occasions. The museum also shows an old Franciscan room, the dining used from the eighteenth century and chasubles that were used in religious services of that era.

Orosi Church Legend

In the archives of the former Museums General Direction, it’s documented an ancient legend about the construction of the Orosi Church, which is located next to the San Jose of Orosi Religious Art Museum. It is said that the temple opens its door to the main rising sun, a rarity compared to other churches that look to the West.

To explain this feature, the locals highlight an ancient legend which tells us that when the Franciscans arrived to Orosi with the Talamanca Indians who carried on their shoulders the Saint Joseph picture playing a silver bell. But in the mountains when they got to the boiling hot spring, the bell did not want to sound anymore, so they discussed that in that place the church had to be built, as was done at once. After shortly made, the church was destroyed several times by a river. There were great penances and prayers, but at the end they understood that while the church was lifted in the usual manner it would fall, because Saint Joseph wanted to always look to Talamanca.

Address: South side of the Orosi Church, district: Orosi, canton: Paraiso, province: Cartago, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 30203.
GPS Coordinates: 9.79705,-83.854125 (9°47’49.38″N, 83°51’14.85″W)
Schedule: from Tuesday to Friday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: + (506) 2533-3852

Address map: Click here to view directions from Central Park, San Jose, Costa Rica TO the San José of Orosi Religious Art Museum in Cartago, Costa Rica at Google Maps

The Juan Santamaría Museum Costa Rica

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Museo de Juan Santamaría en Costa Rica

The Juan Santamaría Museum Costa Rica was created by Republic Act No. 5619 on December 4th, 1974, amended by Law No. 6572 on April 23rd, 1981. The project that led to this law was the initiative of Dr. Luis A. Salas Corrales from Alajuela.

The museum bears the name “Juan Santamaría” in honor to the national hero whose heroic action took place on April 11th, 1856 in Rivas, Nicaragua. On April 9th, 1980, the Museum opens its doors to the community. This is the only museum in the country specializing in the issue of the National Campaign on 1856 – 1857 against the filibuster invader. It is also the museums responsibility to maintain in the collective memory of the Costa Rican people, his heroic epic starring, and to assume an evaluation role on the Alajuela cultural heritage values.

As depositary of the historical heritage of the nation and the Community Cultural Center, the museum contributes to the democratization of cultural services, with a community commitment clear vocation. In addition the Museum has assumed his duties as a civic and communal commitment. For its work in culture promotion; it has been the subject of several awards and is attached to the Ministry of Culture and Youth. The Museum is governed by a Board composed of five members, who perform their functions ad-honórem. Chaired by the representative of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, and the remaining four are chosen from lists consisting of: the Local Government (Alajuela Municipality), Alajuela Institute, Alajuela college and the Geography and History Academy of Costa Rica.

This institution is located in the city of Alajuela, the birthplace of national hero Juan Santamaría, in the buildings known as “Former Alajuela Jail”, constructed between 1894 and 1895, and the “Former Weapons Barracks” of the Alajuela city, also built in the nineteenth century. The two buildings were given the status of historic – patrimonial interest. In establishing its headquarters in this city, the legislators had in mind the necessity that this nascent institution needed to maintain a close link with its immediate environment, Alajuela.

Address: 1st Avenue, between Central and 2nd St., next to the north side of the Alajuela Central Park, district: Alajuela, canton: Alajuela, province: Alajuela, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 20101.
GPS coordinates: 10.016831,-84.214183 (10°01’0.59″N, 84°12’51.06″W)
Schedule: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Website: www.museojuansantamaria.go.cr
 Phone: + (506) 2441-6926

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO the Juan Santamaría Museum in Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps

The San Ramón Museum (José Figueres Ferrer Historic and Cultural Center) Costa Rica

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Museo de San Ramón (Centro Cultural Histórico de José Figueres Ferrer), Costa Rica

The San Ramón Museum (José Figueres Ferrer Historic and Cultural Center) Costa Rica is an institution under the management of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, which aims to promote art and culture as a way of strengthening democratic values. Was conceived as a place where people can “take a peek” at art in its various forms and develop their own sensitivity, so that the words of Don José Figueres Ferrer “Why tractors without violins?” don’t become worn out words.

Because the memory of José Figueres Ferrer as a humanist, statesman and politician, deserves to be honored: Don Pepe is recognized in the world for having the vision to abolish the army, allowing Costa Rica to invest in social development. He was a man committed to culture and always gave great importance to the cultivation of the arts.

The museum is located in the birthplace of Don José Figueres Ferrer in 1906, this illustrious Costa Rican, “Meritorious of the Fatherland”, at the north side of the San Ramon Church in Alajuela. The old building had to be demolished and the new building was designed trying to maintain the distribution that had the house in which Don Pepe spent his childhood. The institution seeks to convert the site into a learning and entertainment place, enabling people to take and convey the importance of spirit cultivating for democracy strengthening and human development promotion.

It is a living monument, where children, youth and adults are admitted every day, hoping to learn about dance, music, literature, visual arts, etc., and where people have a space to discuss thoughts and ideas. It focuses its work to foster a stimulating environment for learning and enjoyment of art through various artistic training and promotion projects and strengthening of democratic values, which include:

Exhibition of plastic arts:
Art Gallery, where each month is a new exhibit, to promote the importance of fine arts, especially for the young, to promote their work.

Artistic training workshops:
It offers training in various artistic disciplines with the idea of encouraging children, youth and adults expression and creativity. It also designs short courses targeted in literature, photography and handicrafts, among others.

Guided tours:
Includes values training, historic reinforcement and reflection on cultural issues.

Contests:
Organizes competitions on painting, essay, story, poetry and photography, to encourage creativity and attract the attention of the community on issues that favor the democratic values of the Costa Rican nation. It also takes account of customs and traditions and organizes competitions for portals, local foods and volley, among others.

Community initiatives support:
Supports highly educational, cultural and artistic activities, promoted by the community or organized groups and provides its building for events aimed at promoting new values in the fields of music, painting, literature and folk tradition.

Rescue, preservation and dissemination of historical memory:
Recovery of written and audio-visuals documents about Don Jose Figueres life and work and the History of San Ramon, with the aim of spreading his thoughts and promote values that strengthen democracy and social justice.

Recitals, concerts, plays and others:
Performances of the various manifestations of the musical and performing arts, of great national and international prestige.

Talks, round tables and conferences:
Organizes roundtables discussions, conferences, film forums and discussions on national and international valuable topics, which promote and strengthen democracy.

Address: North side of the San Ramon Church, district: San Ramon, canton: San Ramon, province: Alajuela, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 20201.
GPS coordinates: 10.087603,-84.469708 (10°05’15.37″N, 84°28’10.95″W)
Schedule: Monday through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Website: www.centrojosefigueres.org
Phone: + (506) 2447-2178

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO the San Ramón Museum in Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps

The Atenas Railway Museum Costa Rica

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Museo Ferroviario de Atenas Costa Rica

The Atenas Railway Museum Costa Rica is located in the town Río Grande of Atenas, exactly at the railway station. Here, visitors not only learn about the history of the train, but they can see tools, railway work equipment, photos, and there is a chance to ride in a real locomotive. You can also gain valuable insights on agrarian culture, through the various tools and machinery used by farmers over the years.

The creation of the museum was initiated by Juan Arguedas, a former employee of the Costa Rican Railways Institute (Incofer in Spanish), who as a child was fascinated by the engines. But the idea of transforming the old railroad station into a museum, came from a group of neighbors who had formed a religious committee called the Jesus Heart Committee, who gave maintenance to the image that is in the place. It was after 1999 that this group began to worry about the deterioration and neglect that the building had fallen into. In this way was born the Rio Grande Station of Atenas Rescue Committee, a group set with the goal to restore the former railway station.

After several efforts, INCOFER gave the installations to the committee, which, through various activities and hard-work, managed to gradually restore the building, which was officially opened to the public on September 14th, 2001. Since then, the museum opens its doors on Sundays and holidays. From the museum you can admire the railway bridge dating from 1901 and parallel, the new vehicle bridge linking Rio Grande with Cebadilla, which was completed in 2002 and declared a Historic-Architectural Heritage of Costa Rica, according to Executive Decree No. 30936-C, published in Official Gazette No. 12 on January 17th, 2003.

The first station was built in wood, with the typical characteristics of railway stations: platforms, corridors, waiting room, office and warehouse. That first structure was entirely destroyed by a fire in 1933. The current building dates from the mid-1930, with 6 meters wide and 56.84 meters long. Internally, the distribution presents bedrooms, two warehouses, an office and a big place for boarding and unloading. The roof is made with galvanized iron, wooden walls with concrete plinth, the waiting room with wooden columns, wooden ceilings and concrete floor. In enclosed spaces, concrete floors, wooden walls, metal gates, wooden trusses, frames and glass.

The Atenas Railway Museum (Museo Ferroviario de Atenas) has a small sample of old photographs, an exhibition of tools and other objects associated with the railways, and with an agricultural area where, in addition to showing everything that farmers needed to do their job, visitors can also observe old kitchen appliances like mud ovens and “comales”. The museum also has a games and entertainment room, as well as a kitchen.

Address: Former Railway Station in Rio Grande, district: Concepción, canton: Atenas, province: Alajuela, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 20505.
GPS Coordinates of Rio Grande of Atenas: 9.9624,-84.355889 (9°57’44.64″N, 84°21’21.20″W)
Schedule: Sundays and holidays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Phone: + (506) 2446-0091 / 810-0660

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Rio Grande of Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Costa Rica’s National University Popular Culture Museum

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Museo de Cultura Popular de la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s National University Popular Culture Museum is located in Santa Lucia of Barva, Heredia. Inaugurated in 1994, thanks to the academic activities in research and extension of the National University Social Sciences Faculty, specifically the History and Sociology School, whose purpose was to implement the Costa Rica Society-University link, which was based on the study of Costa Rican traditions and customs, conceptualized as culture components, in a dynamic way, with the potential to transform the past in light of the needs and challenges of the present.

The museum aims to benefit communities through individual carriers of cultural traditions, through the implementation of actions seeking the enhancement heritage and it’s responsible use, since their work is directed towards developing aspects of heritage such as dance, meals, daily tasks and festivals, among others. The school records for it’s study, preservation and revitalization those cultural practices related to a “lifestyle”, characteristic of the time, and that were significant in the construction of what built the “Costa Rican” imaginary (group of characteristics that define being Costa Rican).

The museums is equally interested in the cultural practices that were relevant and that changed by the incursion of new cultural forms. An example is the adobe-style architecture widespread during the second half of the nineteenth and prohibited by the Costa Rican Seismic Code from the 1910s, which was forced to extinction as a construction system.

In the early decades of the twentieth century, “lifestyles” of the masses were impacted by changes in the new century and business development. Many popular cultural practices lost interest and force, so it began a period of deterioration, neglect and extinction. These cultural practices are our heritage today and for that reason, the Popular Culture Museum (Popular Folk) has taken them as an object of study so that they are studied and preserved for the enjoyment of present and future generations. This is why the programs, projects and activities of the museum are aimed at different sectors, such as students, teachers, families, seniors, organized groups and tourism.

The museum is an adobe house in a 3000 mts2 area, representative of the traditional architecture of the Central Valley. It is a coffee house built between 1885-1887 by the parents of former President Alfredo González Flores. The furniture is older than it’s visitors and the museum also displays tools, costumes and musical instruments from ancient times. Restoration and refurbishment of the permanent exhibition was created through the collaboration of national and international agencies (National University, Ministry of Culture and Youth, ICOMOS of Costa Rica, and Germany Embassy) with the active participation of the traditional builders in the region. The ambient of its interior spaces and the reproduction of their natural environment has created the eco-cultural framework from which the museums’ proposal is constructed.

The Popular Culture Museum also holds workshops on traditional cuisine (tortillas, prestiños and roasted oven bread), development of traditional toys (dolls embroidery and kites) and environmental education. The museum also has a multipurpose hall, restaurant, landscaping and parking area.

Address: from the Auto Mercado in Heredia 700 meters north, 450 meters east, 50 meters north and 100 meters west, district: Santa Lucía, canton: Barva, province: Heredia, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 40205.
GPS coordinates: 10.013331,-84.116653 (10°00’47.99″N, 84°06’59.95″)
Schedule: from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Website: www.pdmuseologia.una.ac.cr
Phone: + (506) 2277-3857 / 2260-1619

Address map: Click here to view directions from Central Park, San Jose, Costa Rica TO The Popular Culture Museum from Costa Rica National University in Heredia, Costa Rica at Google Maps

INBioparque Costa Rica

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Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: INBioparque de Costa Rica

INBioparque Costa Rica is a private association, of public interest and non-profit, which mission is to promote a greater awareness of the importance of biodiversity, to achieve its conservation and improve the quality of human’s life. Its role is to teach society in biodiversity, to raise awareness of the biological richness of Costa Rica, its value and the importance of conserving it, these is what led to the creation of INBioparque.

INBioparque is an amazing theme park that offers an interactive experience with nature, where visitors can find groups of plants from the tropical rainforest, the Central Valley forest, the tropical dry forest and wetlands. In more than 5 hectares people can watch birds and marvel at the colors of: the orchids, bromeliads and heliconias. Around the lake you can enjoy the butterfly farm, the aquarium and get to know about the land and its crops.

When walking through the INBioparque trails, visitors can closely see poisonous frogs, bullet ants, boas, alligators, turtles, iguanas and tarantulas, as well as sloths and other native species; through INBioparque people can see Costa Rica’s biodiversity through interactive exhibits and living ecosystems. The INBioparque is located in Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica.

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Address: 400 meters north and 250 meters west of the Shell service station in Santo Domingo de Heredia, or 2.5 km east of the Valencia road to Heredia, district: Santa Rosa, canton: Santo Domingo, province: Heredia, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 40306.
GPS Coordinates: 9.975189,-84.093558 (9°58’30.68″N, 84°05’36.81″W)
Schedule: From Tuesday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Website: www.inbioparque.com
 Phone: + (506) 2507-8107
Fax: + (506) 2507-8271

Address map: Click here to view directions TO the INBioparque in Heredia, Costa Rica at Google Maps

The Abangares Mine Ecomuseum Costa Rica

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Address: La Sierra, district: Sierra, canton: Abangares, province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 50702.

WAZE location The Abangares Mine Ecomuseum Costa Rica  Google Maps location The Abangares Mine Ecomuseum Costa Rica

GPS Coordinates of La Sierra of Abangares: 10.285153,-84.928342 (10°17’6.55″N, 84°55’42.03″W)
Schedule: from Tuesday to Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Phone: +506 2690-5236, +506 2690-5239, +506 2662 0004

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Las Juntas of Abangares, Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

The Abangares Mine Ecomuseum Costa Rica was founded in 1991, located precisely where there was the gold processing plant, rescuing the buildings and machinery that was used at the time of the gold rush in Costa Rica.

In the museum, there is an outdoor exhibition of mining machinery and an exhibit hall with old photographs and miner objects such as crucibles, carburetors, pulleys, an oven, etc. When you climb to the top you can see the stone ruins of the Former Mazos Building that crushed 100 tons of gold material every day for the 30 years that the mine worked. It resembles impressive indigenous archaeological ruins. At the museum there is a dynamo or Pelton that was used in the hydroelectric plant, an air blade or wagons loader and one of the steam trains called the Tulita, in honor of the mines manager wife in 1904, Mr. Hito, the machine carried mine material to the Mazos from the nearby mines.

In general at the Abangares Mine Ecomuseum you can learn about gold mining with the available machinery, tunnels, photos, trucks. Available services: tours, night walks, thermal pools, restaurant and accommodation.

History of Abangares Mine

The story begins in 1884 when Juan Alvarado Acosta discovered the mine and in 1887 he sold it to Vicente, Paulino and Rafael Acosta who called the mine “Three Brothers”. In 1889 the company was sold to the Anglo American Exploration Development Company Limited, during the government of Rafael C. Iglesias, and then into the hands of the Abangares Gold Fields.

Abangares is known as the Costa Rica mining canton, as it was the location of the largest gold mining project in the history of Costa Rica. The main mining district was La Sierra of Abangares, where Minor Cooper Keith placed his company the Abangares Gold Fields, the Costa Rican gold processing plant. Another Abangares district in which the gold extraction also influenced was Las Juntas, where mines were developed and where workers converged on the weekends to drink and play poker. The name “Abangares” is derived from the name of the former indigenous chief of the area which was “Avancari” in the Nahuatl language means “God of the waters” or “God of the marshes”. Avancari was accredited the force and flow of the river that crosses the canton today called “Río Abangares” (Abangares River).

The name of the La Sierra district comes from the mountain range that crosses the territory and the name of Las Juntas has a very peculiar etymology. The story tells that after payday the miners met at the nearest town to drink and play poker (as noted above), and this activity was called “Las Juntas”.

After obtaining the mine, began the mining exploration and new mines were created all over the mountain range of La Sierra of Tilarán in the Abangares territories. Gold exploitation techniques were imported which raised the gold processing productivity. The application of cyanide, mercury and gold spraying with complex equipment such as breaker or decks boxes, filters, grinders, air compressors, locomotives, lifts, determined the areas big development (which is compared with the development that caused the gold rush in California), in such a way that for 1901 there was a Commissariat (small market), hospital, shops, hotels, workshops, ice factory, telegraph and electrical substation.

The mining attracted immigrants from many different places. The workers mass was formed throughout Costa Rica and Central America. The Italians were brought to work as stonecutters or stone laborers for the construction of the Mazos Building base (where gold was processed). Jamaicans were the foremen, and Chinese, German, English and North Americans conducted administrative tasks. Mining gave a lot of capital to Minor Keith but in 1931, the company left the region due to the 1929 crisis or depression in USA as well as the scarcity of gold deposits.

Santa Rosa’s Casona Historical Museum, Costa Rica

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The Santa Rosa’s Casona Historical Museum (Museo Histórico Casona de Santa Rosa) is the site of the battle against American filibuster William Walker. It consists of historical rooms which allow you to learn the relevant facts to the events occurred at the Hacienda of Santa Rosa and you can also enjoy a showroom about the Guanacaste Conservation Area (ACG in Spanish). All rooms are decorated with artwork that will guide you on your journey.

The museum is a very large structure, typical of the cattle ranches of Guanacaste, it also has a chapel (at one side of the chapel is located the room where slept the officiating priest who came to Mass every Sunday with neighbors from other farms), an old kitchen with the utensils used in the farms, a “Sabanero” room and a room with natural resources information. The museum also features guided tours, a small documentation center in the administrative area of the Park with scientific information, dining room, souvenir shop and a camping area with drinking water, tables, grills and garbage dumps.

Santa Rosa’s Casona History

Santa Rosa was one of the largest and oldest ranches in the country. Available data from the year 1663 refers to it as a place where agricultural and livestock activities developed through the years until 1966. It was not until 1863, when the owner Don Inocente Barrios Muñoz, registered Santa Rosa in the Public Registry under the name of “Finca Santa Rosa”. The original house was transformed in 1895, expanding and providing the design that remains until today. In 1919 the balcony was built and more recently the Ministry of Culture and the National Parks Service has been responsible for carrying out the necessary restoration work to keep the historic site.

Near the Casona are located the stone pens, built around 1700, there visitors can observe the “Bramadero” and southward along the immersion bath in which they bathe and took care of livestock.

A little history: in the nineteenth century, Nicaragua had run into political problems, a situation exploited by the North American William Walker, with slave trends, which governed under the doctrine of “Manifest Destiny” (the domain of powerful countries on the small ones). Walker offered his help in Nicaragua to resolve the problems and established in this country. His true intentions were to conquer the five provinces of Central America, “Five or None.”

In Costa Rica the President of the Republic Don Juan Rafael Mora Porras, knowing the intentions of Walker, declared war to Nicaragua on February 27th, 1856 and calls for Costa Ricans to join arms. The march began on March 4th from San José to Northern Border, commanded by the President, arriving to Liberia on March 12th where they join the battalion organized in that city (Moracia Battalion), under the command of Don José María Cañas. When the buccaneers heard about the movement that was happening in our country, they decided to send troops under the orders of colonel Schlessinger, which entered Costa Rica by the road that connected Liberia and Nicaragua, which also passed through the Hacienda of Santa Rosa, arriving on March 19th.

Costa Ricans started the journey to Santa Rosa too and on March 20th, armed with rifles, swords and bayonets at 4 p.m. began the attack, surrounding the buccaneers that had been located in the Casona and in the pens, and fourteen minutes later, the battle ended with the Costa Ricans triumph.

Address: Santa Rosa National Park, district: Santa Elena, canton: La Cruz, province: Guanacaste. Zone postal code: 51004.
GPS coordinates: 10.877594,-85.585858 (10°52’39.34″N, 85°35’9.09″W)
Schedule: From Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Website: www.acguanacaste.ac.cr
Phone: + (506) 2666-5051 / 2666-5020

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Santa Rosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Punta Islita’s Outdoor Contemporary Art Museum, Costa Rica

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Punta Islita’s Outdoor Contemporary Art Museum (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo al Aire Libre de Punta Islita) was established in 2003 after the “Encuentro en Islita” an activity in which a group of urban artists made more than 15 works on public houses, forests, communal hall and town square. The museum has a social concept of art and creative thinking as a generator of sustainable development, and it aims to develop an artistic language through a process with a group of about 50 local artists.

The Punta Islita Outdoor Contemporary Art Museum has the Museum House, were they teach various workshops and develop activities for San Jose in coordination with the Costa Rican Art Museum. Currently the museum is part of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and is located in Punta Islita, Nandayure in the province of Guanacaste. The Museum has ramps and access for disabled, guided tours, workshops on creativity and thinking, as well as training in various artistic areas.

Address: Islita, district: Bejuco, canton: Nandayure, province: Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 50906.
GPS Coordinates: 9.859472,-85.396428 (9°51’34.10″N, 85°23’47.14″W)
Schedule: From Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Phone: + (506) 2661-4044 / 2290-4259

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Punta Islita Church, Guanacaste, Costa Rica at Google Maps