{{about|the Nicaraguan settlement|the Pacific Ocean climate phenomenon|La Niña|the 2024 Corb Lund album|Corb Lund}} {{Infobox settlement <!--See the Table at Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> <!-- Basic info ----------------> |name = El Viejo |settlement_type = Municipality<!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City)-->
|other_name = |native_name = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English --> |nickname = |motto = <!-- images and maps -----------> |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = Basilica Menor Inmaculada Concepción de María, El Viejo, Chinandega |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = Nicaragua<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map --> |pushpin_label_position = right |pushpin_mapsize = 250 |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Nicaragua <!-- Location ------------------> |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Nicaragua}} |subdivision_type1 = Department |subdivision_name1 = Chinandega |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = <!-- Politics -----------------> |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = Maria Rodas Guevara (FSLN) |established_title = <!-- Settled --> |established_date = |established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) --> |established_date2 = |established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) --> |established_date3 = <!-- Area ---------------------> |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = Imperial <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired--> |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 1275<!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion--> |area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox settlement for details on automatic unit conversion--> |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = <!-- Population -----------------------> |population_as_of = 2022 estimate |population_footnotes = <ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/nicaragua/admin/el_viejo/3025/ Citypopulation.de] Population of El Viejo municipality</ref> |population_note = |population_total = 91446 |population_density_km2 = auto |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = 52840 <!-- General information ---------------> |timezone = |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = {{coord|12|40|N|87|10|W|region:NI|display=inline}} |elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags--> |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = <!-- Area/postal codes & others --------> |postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = |blank_info = |website = |footnotes = }}
'''El Viejo''' is a city and a municipality in the Chinandega department of Nicaragua.
== Overview == El Viejo is a small city near the city of Chinandega, noted for its particular gastronomic specialties, which include ''rosquillas'' (a type of doughnut), ''cajetas'' (a type of dulce de leche), ''bollitos de leche'' (a kind of scone), and a fruit particular to the region called the toncua, which is related to the papaya and is eaten with honey.
thumb|left|300px|Virgen del Trono, El Viejo, Chinandega El Viejo is also the site of a colonial-era church, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of Mary in El Viejo (''Basílica Inmaculada Concepción de María en El Viejo''), built in the 17th century. The image was crowned by the Pope in May 1989 via decree from December 1988. The church was elevated to the status of national religious sanctuary on 8 October 1995, and was declared a minor basilica on February 7, 1996, by Pope John Paul II, during his second visit to Nicaragua.
The basilica possesses a baptismal font dating from 1560, and also possesses a little statue of the Virgin Mary. Tradition states that Fray Pedro de Zepeda y Ahumada, brother of Teresa of Avila, traveling to El Realejo with the image, was forced to go to El Viejo due to a storm. The people of El Viejo were so taken by it that they wished for the image to stay in their town. However, Zepeda y Ahumada set off once more for El Realejo, but a second storm forced him back to El Viejo. Thus, he decided that this was a sign of divine intervention and left the image in El Viejo.
On December 6 of every year, the silver that is part of the little statue is washed before congregants in a ceremony called the ''lavado de la plata''.
The city is twinned with Norwich in the United Kingdom.
== Notable people == * Joaquín del Cossío, Supreme Director of the State of Nicaragua * Hermógenes L. Mora (1979 -), poet and author * Vicente Padilla (1977 -), Major Baseball League player * Roberto Sacasa (1840–1896), President of Nicaragua
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050920194042/http://www.norwich.gov.uk/site_files/pages/City_Visitors__Twinning_Links__El_Viejo_Nicaragua.html Norwich Council page on twinning with El Viejo]
== References == {{reflist}}
{{coord|12|40|N|87|10|W|region:NI_type:city|display=title}}
{{Chinandega Department}}
Category:Municipalities of the Chinandega Department
{{Nicaragua-geo-stub}}