Destinations >> León

In the western part of the country, the city of Leon was founded by the Spanish conqueror, Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1524.
The city of Leon was the capital of Nicaragua until 1852.

Leon still retains its colonial-style streets and buildings from that time, evidenced by its beautiful cathedral - the largest in Central America. The cathedral’s atrium is adorned with impressive lions, more of which are found around the fountain of the central plaza. This church was built between 1747 and 1860, and then restored in 1992. The interior is in the baroque style, and holds valuable oil paintings and frescos as well as an image of Christ carved in wood, which was rescued from Leon Viejo. It also houses the tomb of the “Prince of Spanish Letters”, Ruben Dario.

Stop to visit the churches of La Merced, El Calvario, San Juan, San Francisco, San Juan Bautista de Sutiaba and La Recoleccion, which have exquisitely adorned interiors. This city is also famous for the stunning and colorful sawdust street carpets made during Holy Week, particularly by the residents of the indigenous neighborhood of Sutiaba.

Visit the Ruben Dario Museum, where the poet spent his childhood, and where there are many objects that offer details about the life history of the poet.

If you are interested in religious art, the Rectory in Sutiaba functions as a museum which houses a great number of works dating from the colonial period.

To the north of Leon are the Hot Springs or Hervideros de San Jacinto, naturally beautiful thermal vents that continuously spew sulphuric water from a subterranean river heated by the Telica Volcano. The hot springs are famous for their brightly colored sulphur crystals.

Thirty kilometers (19 miles) south are the ruins of the first city of Leon – today known as “Leon Viejo” (Old Leon) – destroyed by an earthquake in 1610, and rediscovered in the 1960s. The ruins are located across from the Momotombo Volcano and were declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The remains of the conqueror, Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba are found there. Nicaragua’s currency is named for him. On the Pacific Ocean are the beaches of Poneloya and the Island of Juan Venado.

Tourist Attractions

Historical: The Church of Sutiaba, the Sanctuary of El Señor de Esquipulas in El Sauce, the Ruins of Leon Viejo.

Scenic: The Maribio Volcanic Range; Las Pilas, Cerro Negro, Telica Volcanoes; the San Jacinto fumaroles; Tigre and Monte Galan Crater Lakes; the Thermal Waters of California; the seaside resorts, beaches and estuaries.

Ecological: Cerro Negro Volcano, protected areas at Monte Galan Crater Lake, and the Juan Venado Reserve; the fauna and vegetation of the El Tamarindo and Poneloya estuaries.