Alajuela Attractions
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Originally named Villa Hermosa, Alajuela was founded in 1782 and is the capital of Alajuela province. Costa Rica's second largest urban area, the city and immediate suburbs have a population of about 172,000.
Built on a gently sloping hill, the elevation of the city ranges from 920m/3,018ft to 970m/3,812ft. While 18th C architecture has not survived in the city, the city enjoys an unhurried pace and warm climate.
Alajuela is famous for being the birthplace of Juan Santamaría, the national hero of Costa Rica. In 1856, American William Walker marched through Nicaragua with the intent to conquer and enslave all of Central America in order to use the labor to build a canal across the isthmus.
A small militia gathered in Costa Rica and forced Walker into a wooden fort that Santamaría, a teenaged drummer in the militia, volunteered to torch. While Walker was forced to flee Costa Rica, Santamaría lost his life in the fire. He is commemorated in Alajuela by a museum and park dedicated to his honor.
Built on a gently sloping hill, the elevation of the city ranges from 920m/3,018ft to 970m/3,812ft. While 18th C architecture has not survived in the city, the city enjoys an unhurried pace and warm climate.
Alajuela is famous for being the birthplace of Juan Santamaría, the national hero of Costa Rica. In 1856, American William Walker marched through Nicaragua with the intent to conquer and enslave all of Central America in order to use the labor to build a canal across the isthmus.
A small militia gathered in Costa Rica and forced Walker into a wooden fort that Santamaría, a teenaged drummer in the militia, volunteered to torch. While Walker was forced to flee Costa Rica, Santamaría lost his life in the fire. He is commemorated in Alajuela by a museum and park dedicated to his honor.
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