Alajuela, Administrative district in Central Valley, Costa Rica
Alajuela is an administrative city in the Central Valley region, situated roughly 10 kilometers northwest of San José. It sits at approximately 950 meters elevation and has a compact downtown with colonial-era buildings and a main plaza.
The settlement was established in 1782 by Spanish colonizers under the original name La Lajuela. It grew to become the administrative seat of Alajuela Province and remains so today.
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar anchors the main plaza, where century-old mango trees create gathering spaces for locals throughout the day. The trees frame how people naturally move through and use this central area.
Juan Santamaría International Airport sits just 3 kilometers from downtown, making it easy to reach the city center by various transport options. The compact core is walkable, and you can explore the main attractions and markets on foot.
The Central Market sprawls across an entire city block and is famous for its mango selection from surrounding farms. Walking through it shows what local agriculture produces and how people shop for everyday goods.
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