Surrounding areas

Catarina

It has 13 square kilometers of extension, 8, 864 inhabitants and 500 mt above sea level making it a cool and healthy place for its inhabitants and visitors, as well as it is for their crops: Coffee, beans, sugar cane, papaya, watermelon and gardens. There are two theories of the origin of its names. The first one says that it comes from its patron saint Santa Catarina de Alejandria (Egypt) and the second one says that it comes from a Portuguese word Catalina, the first one is the most accepted one. Also, it was called Namotiva, (Brothers or Neighbors in Nahuatl Language) because of it was a dwelling place for different indigenous people and it was a common name for others places like: San Juan de Oriente, Niquinohomo and Nandasmo.

Diria

The origin of this town name comes from its founder the Indian Chief Diriangen. Its people were called Dirianes or people that live up the mountains. They also made up their own language being this “Mangue”. It has 30 square kilometers and is located on a hill called Las Flores. It is also well known as a Pueblo Blanco or Brujo (Witch or White Town) due to its outside homes were painted white and practice white magic or botanical knowledge to heal their people from different diseases. It is said that when the first Spaniards stepped on this territory riding their horses the Dirianes People thought that they were terrible demons half animal and half man coming to punish them. The Spaniards realized their fear and avoided being seen getting off from their horses, that is how the indigenous people started using the horse as a holly symbol for their ceremonies before going to war and made up the “Baile de la Yegua” (The dance of the horse).

Diriomo

San juan del oriente

Founded in 1585 under the name of Saint John of the Dishes due to its industry of making plates out of clay and after the Independence of Central America it was named San Juan de Oriente or Saint John of the East. Most of its inhabitants still live on pottery which is their ancestors’ heritage.