Dávila Bolaños interprets the word as: Co – mal – apa: Cotl, helmet, container, matl, molded thing; apa, place of water. “Where the water is in containers as if made by hand”. It also offers another interpretation: Comalli: comal; Atl: water. Bread: place. "River of the comales" or "River of the Comalquelites", a plant called yerba del comal. It could also be that this river had many depressions in its bed in the form of comales. Alfonso Valle: Comalli etymology, comal; atl, water; bread, place or "In the water of the comales". Urtecho: Comalli, comal; atl, water; pan-place. Comal-a-pan. "River of the comales".
Traditional houses
Thomas Belt paid attention to the name “Comalapa” when he stated: “The town of Comalapa, in Chontales, sounds like 'camé lapa;' undoubtedly a corruption, on the part of the Spaniards, of some old indigenous name.”
El Nicaraguan historian Julián N. Guerrero states that the original name of this population was Comalagalpan and it was "the inveterate Spanish custom and its descendants, of shortening the names, it was first Comalapán and then Comalapa". He also considers that the interpretation given by Valle may respond "to the first seat of Comalapa, in the mountainous lands of El Limón", where the topography "has had a different topography than the current population".
Comalapa has seen the birth of many illustrious men, among which stand out: the bachelor, poet and historian Basilio Robleto and the poet, playwright and writer Dr. Octavio Robleto. The politician, military man and former president Emiliano Chamorro Vargas lived in this town from an early age. His niece-in-law, Miss Flora Enríquez, was the one who donated the image of the Virgin of Candelaria that presides over the main altar of the town's church. The image was brought from Barcelona, Spain, in 1926.
The parish church of the town is one of the oldest in the department of Chontales.
Today the town of Comalapa continues to be a quiet place, full of friendly and affectionate people with visitors.
Artistic expressions and manifestations
La township music it is represented by bands of philharmonics.
El city singing festival It takes place every year and has been the stage for many young people to show their talent as singers.
A literary pride of Nicaragua born in Comalapa is the writer Octavio Roblet. Among his works are: Nights of Oluma, Labyrinth of Vigils, The Landscape Seeker and many theatrical works. He was deserving of two Rubén Darío National Poetry Prize.
Comalapa letters are also represented by Noel Vargas and Daniel Nunez Rodriguez, rancher by trade, but poet by vocation. He has his unpublished work and is Comalapa's favorite son.
Craft trades
They are related to agriculture, livestock and the offer of services: shoemakers, seamstresses, confectioners, midwives, sobadores, tortilla makers, clay and pita artisans.
Legends
The lCuisalá river valley, the ranchers who marked their irons when they sold their souls to the evil one in exchange for abundant riches, the witches of San Francisco and the goblins from various parts of the municipality.
Local figures who have contributed to history and culture
Dr. Medardo Robleto Enriquez. Pioneer physician and humanist. He was called "doctor of the poor".
Dr. José Antonio Robleto Fernández. Lawyer and magistrate of the Court of Appeals of Granada.
Mr. Demetrio Duarte Enriquez, designated Citizen of the Century in Chontales.
historians and writers Catalina Suarez, Ernesto Duarte Taleno, Daniel Núñez Rodriguez, Orente Bellenger Mejía and Octavio Robleto.
Mrs. Catherine Suarez Sándigo's widow, enjoyed great popular appreciation. She was the steward of the Virgin of Candelaria and the municipality's favorite daughter.
Other sites of historical and cultural interest
El quizaltepe hill, bordering point with Boaco, it is an enormous monolith seen from the highway that goes from Managua to El Rama. It is frequented by explorers who climb to its summit to appreciate the immensity of the landscape. At its top is a cross that was placed as a request to God so that the hill does not overflow.
The Cuisalá, Santa Teresita, San Lorenzo de Los Chamorros, La Pitahaya and El Carmen haciendas are references to the history and culture of Comalapa. Its colonial buildings resist the passing of the centuries.
En Painted Stones abundant samples of indigenous engravings are preserved that have given rise to the name of this rural community.
El monolith of the Stone of the Bull It preserves a large sample of cave paintings, a scarce indigenous art in the department of Chontales. The locals say that the figures represent the marks or irons of old landowners who sold their souls to the devil in exchange for abundant riches.
Solitary La Pelona Island It can be visited to learn about its sad participation in episodes of national history or to practice artisanal fishing.
In the El Pochote community you can visit its natural park to enjoy the tranquility of the place.
Crafts
The craftsman Ower Meinar Hegg manufactures leather products such as belts, saddles, wallets, bags and boots.
Pottery. Comalapa has one of the few pottery communities in Chontales, where comales, pitchers and some representations of animals for piggy banks are made.
Basketry. They make rugs, baskets and fiber hats.
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