Page 20 - AHATA

a8 local
Monday 7 July 2025

Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

SAN NICOLAS— At Just 11 tural, historical, or scientific
miles southeast from Oran- importance can be found
jestad you will enter the city here for the purpose of ed-
San Nicolas, also known as ucation or enjoyment.
Sunrise City or Chocolate Carnival Euphoria is show-
City. A city that is rich in casing Aruba’s Carnival.
authentic culture and is- See how are Carnival has
land charm. San Nicolas is developed over the past
Aruba’s second largest city 65 years.
and was once a bustling
company town dominated The new San Nicolas
by the oil industry since the In the shadow of the refin-
early 1930’s. ery, an art capital is quietly
beginning to grow. This is
Over the course of four de- the new San Nicolas, a
cades, its demographics place that is starting to be-
had changed immensely come a magnet for all that
due to a stream of Afro-Ca- is young, cool and hip in buildings with colorful art
ribbean and South Ameri- Aruba. Indeed, San Nicolas pieces that keep brighten-
can workers who came has all of the ingredients of ing up SunriseCity.
to fill the jobs in the oil re- an emerging cultural hub
finery between the 1920’s — varied history, interesting Must See, Do, Buy & Eat
until the 1960’s. To this day architecture, and, perhaps A little bit of everything can
traces of the multicultural most importantly, an urban be found in the main street.
influences in culinary offer- layout that makes it walk- Stores selling shoes, cloth-
ings and customs, housing able. As you walk around, ing, jewelry you name it.
and population are clearly the streets are silent but Don’t miss out on trying the
visible in San Nicolas - more situated in the Water Tower and renovated in 2014 is the walls are loud, filled exquisite food offered by
than anywhere else on the in San Nicolas and narrates the home of the Communi- with bright, colorful murals the cafes and restaurants
island. Aruba's industrial history ty Museum. The collection is painted by a collection or just enjoy a peaceful
which began in the 19th remarkable and spans mil- of artists from around the walk admiring the murals,
Flow of history century. Here you will learn lennia. Ancient fossils stand world. Thanks to the efforts mosaic benches and all
if you are looking for his- about gold, aloe, phos- next to tableaus of an au- of various art organizations the history San Nicolas has
tory San Nicolas has it. Here phate, oil and the tourism thentically recreated colo- in Aruba, such as Art Rules to offer.q
you will find three amazing industries which made San nial kitchen and bedroom Aruba and Aruba Art Fair,
museums, The Museum of Nicolas once a bustling and 19th-century barber- San Nicolas has had quite
Industry, the Community business center. Experi- shop, just to name a few of the aesthetic makeover
Museum and the Carnival ence the touching stories the items of old-time Aruba with regards to vibrant
Euphoria, all within walking of those who were part of that has been preserved. A street art. Each year more
distance from one another. this history. collection of artifacts and and more stunning murals
The Museum of Industry is Nicolaas Store built in 1940 other objects of artistic, cul- are replacing broken down

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