More than a town

The growing development and progress of Grecia has allowed most of its population to enjoy an enviable peace and comfortable life.

For Mrs. Mercedes Matamoros, a native, the general environment and tranquility of the region are characteristics that convinced her to stay in Grecia – to the point of never desiring to leave. She considers it her paradise.

Mrs. Mercedes Matamoros, neighbor of Grecia. Location: Grecia Central Park.

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It is not mere coincidence that Grecia is a privileged town. It has been proclaimed the cleanest city in Latin America, thanks to the effort and perseverance of its citizens.

First-Class Education and Business Environment

Grecians are especially concerned about education. Consequently, Grecia has schools in all districts, eight high schools, three regional university centers (one public and two private), a hospital and banking agencies. The educational institutions El Nuevo Milenio, Santa Josefina, the ABC and El Divino Niño are among the bilingual high schools.

Companies such as Sal Diamante, CoopeVictoria and the transnational enterprise Warners bet their luck on this place and forged a unique path in the is area by creating job opportunities and fostering social development. Agro-industrial companies, factories, workshops, warehouses, modern supermarkets, tourist centers, restaurants and public swimming pools also support the local economy.

Coffee and sugar cane are still the main pillars of the economy, led by CoopeVictoria R.L., the oldest cooperative in the country and a source of pride for the canton.

This company has developed organic agriculture in order to diminish the use of fertilizers and increase consumption of the final product.

Sugar cane processor of the company CoopeVictoria R.L.

Shop of the company CoopeVictoria R.L. in which products derivated from sugar cane, coffee and dwarf palm among others, can be found.

Coffee plantations surround the town of Grecia.

A special forest

Along the southwest slope of Poas Volcano is the beautiful Grecia Forest Reserve, also called the Children’s Forest. This reserve spans a total area of 2,611 hectares of humid forest and was created to preserve the headwaters of the Grecia water supply.

Its temperatures range from 8 to 16 ° C with rainfalls of up to 3222 mm. This sector also contains a wide and rich variety of flora and fauna, especially birds.

The Children’s Forest vegetation includes species such as Ciprecillo (Podocarpus oleifolius), Lorito (Winmania pinnata), Yellow Quizarrá (Ocotea stenosaura), Yas (Persea schiedeana), Quizarrá quina (Nectandra glabrescens), Sweet Cedar (Cedrela tonduzzi), Ratoncillo (Rapanea pellucido - punctata), Encino Oak (Quercus sp.) and others.

The coniferous and jaúl forest shelters species of Cypress, (Cupressus lusitanica), Pine (Pinus sp.) and Jaúl (Alnus acuminata). Wild fauna includes species such as the opossum (Didelphis marsupialis), four-eyed fox (Philander opossum), zorricí (Metachirus nudicaudatus), balsa fox (Caluromys dervianus), common armadillo (Dasypus novemcintus), three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus), oso colmenero (Tamandua tetradactyla), common rabbit (Sylvilagus brasiliensis) and porcupine (Coendou mexicanus). There are small populations of Tolomuco (Eira barbara), weasel (Mustela frenata), león breñero (Herpailurus yaguaroundii), caucel (Leopardus wiedii), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and others.

You may wish to visit the Panoramic Path, which curves up around to the viewpoint where most of the country’s Central Valley can be observed. The diversity of flora and fauna make this location a very interesting one.

Yesterday and Today

The desire of the Grecians to build a church was not easily fulfilled, and the innumerable stumbling blocks encountered along the way are a clear measure of the tenacity needed to make it happen. It is not in vain that they say faith moves mountains.

The culmination of this desire was impeded by economic difficulties and the scarcity of other resources. The chapel was never raised; it its place a modest prayer house with a roof of straw was built in 1839, situated – according to Grecian historian and University of Costa Rica professor Carlos Alberto Maroto Barquero – in the current location of the bus stop at the Municipal Market.

Between 1846 and 1847 – when the Alajuela Parrish established a local office – another chapel was erected, built of wood with a tile roof.

The construction process of this temple inspired Domingo González – commissioned by the community of Grecia – to ask Priest Juan Manuel Carazo on Nov. 10, 1846, to consecrate it before Our Lady of Las Mercedes. This was done on Jan. 22, 1847, in a solemn Mass – which included a procession and blessing of the pantheon – beginning at 4 p.m. This was the first temple in Grecia to be built of wood and brick, and was declared a Parrish on Aug. 8, 1854. Nevertheless, in December of 1860 it was partially consumed by flames during a fire.

Later on, during an open chapter meeting in July of 1867, proceedings were begun for the masonry construction of another temple; but an earthquake destroyed it (1888) before the iron roof had been placed over the structure.

This tragedy influenced the spirit of the populace, who finally decided to raise a church made of metal that would be much more resistant to the forces of nature.

Thus, in 1890, with the support of Bishop Bernardo Augusto Thiel and Parrish Priest Carlos María Ulloa, the first steps where taken to commission the fabrication of the metal frame of the current church from the Belgian company Dressé Aux Ateliers, of the Societé de Couillet.

According to the research of Maroto Barquero in “The historical, social and economic significance of coffee and sugar cane in the county of Grecia 1892-1978,” the first sheets of metal arrived at Puerto Limón in October of 1892, and were transported by railway to Alajuela and from there by oxen over 20 kilometers of roads to Grecia.

The metal sheets sat in the park for two years because of the absence of a budget to continue construction. In March of 1894, with the firm support of then-President Rafael Yglesias Castro, work resumed and was concluded under the leadership of engineer Lucas Fernández in December of 1897 – except for the windows and doors, which were never sent by the Belgian company.

Metallic church of Grecia located next to the Grecia Central Park.

One of Nirvana’s properties, High Valley Ranch, located just 5 minutes from El Bosque del Niño Forrest Reserve and 20 minutes from the town of Grecia, is the ideal place to live or play. For more information check our web site:
www.nirvanarealestate.com/highf.htm

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