Heredia History
The “Barva” village was founded 10 years after Cartago’s foundation. The actual Heredia city is to 3 Km to the ancient “Barva” town. At the beginning, Barva’s citizens built religious buildings like the parish church of “Lagunilla” which was constructed in 1706 near the village of “El Barreal” nevertheless this church was moved to north to the actual site of Heredia city. It is reported that houses in outlying areas were even burned so that their occupants would move closer to the center of the developing town.
During the colonial period the city was named “Villa Vieja” or “Cubujuqui”. The name Heredia is in honor to “Alonso Fernandez de Heredia” who obtained the “Villa” title for the new town in 1763 but the title was overturned in 1769. The actual church at center of the city is one of the oldest in the country since this temple was finished in 1797.
Heredia also is called the “Ciudad de las Flores” (city of flowers) because in XIX century the “Flores” family dominated the life of the cit , actually their home hosts the municipal museum which is located just north of the central temple.
Between 1821 and 1823 Heredia was separated of Costa Rica because the citizens supported the Mexican government but in April 1823 Heredia is reinserted to Costa Rica. In 1824 the Costa Rica Congress gave to Heredia the title of City. During the 1830s (from 1835 to 1838) the city was the capital of Costa Rica.
In 1848 the politic Constitution gave to Heredia the title of Canton and assigns it 7 parish districts.
Some famous citizens of “Heredia” are: Oscar Arias Sanchez (Nobel Peace Award 1987), Carlos Melendez Chaverri (historian), Paulo Wanchope (soccer player).
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