Churches of León

Located just 93km from the city of Managua, capital of Nicaragua, known as The University City, We find the department of León, which currently has 10 municipalities: The towns of La Paz and Nagarote are known for their high prices and high quality of services.

History

The city of León was founded on June 15, 1524, the day of the Holy Trinity, by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba on the banks of the Momotombo volcano.

This location is about 30 km from the current city of León and is known as León Viejo, whose ruins have become a tourist attraction. The decision was made to move the city to a new location next to the old indigenous village of Sutiaba following an earthquake and volcanic eruption in 1610. León was the capital of Nicaragua until 1824.

It still preserves the colonial style of that era in its streets and buildings, which is evident in the beautiful Cathedral – considered the largest in Central America – whose atrium is decorated with impressive lions, which are also found around the fountain in the central square.

This church was built between 1747 and 1860, and restored in 1992. Inside there are beautiful baroque decorations, valuable oil paintings and frescoes, as well as a wooden image of Christ that was rescued from León Viejo. It also houses the tomb of the “Prince of Castilian Letters”, Rubén Darío, and the mortal remains of the city’s founding bishops and other great poets, such as Alfonso Cortes.

Places of interest

Rubén Darío Archive Museum

This museum was founded in 1964 in the house where the poet lived during his childhood with his adoptive parents, Aunt Bernarda Sarmiento and Colonel Félix Ramírez.

Here the largest collection of manuscripts and first editions of his books translated into English, French, Russian, German, Japanese, Italian and Chinese is kept, as well as documents, personal belongings and photographs of the poet in the different stages of his fascinating life.

Among the emblematic objects you can see the diplomatic suit that Darío wore when he was Nicaraguan ambassador to Spain, as well as a collection of banknotes issued by the Central Bank of Nicaragua with the effigy of Rubén Darío.

It is located one block west of the San Francisco Church. Its hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, from 08:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m., and Sundays from 09:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m.

Ortiz Gurdián Foundation Art Center

It is located in several colonial buildings restored between 1999 and 2013 by the Ortiz Gurdián Foundation: the Casa Norberto Ramírez, Derbyshire, Delgadillo and the Casa Deshón, which make up the Art Center. The museum opened its doors in 2000.

Each building houses a different stage of exhibition of contemporary painting, sculpture, imagery and crafts. The pieces are loans from various art houses and are part of the exhibition of pieces by artists participating in the national art biennials; paintings of the Austrian school, Quito school and Cuzco school.

Religious Tourism

A tour of the different churches with different architectures in the city, which have a strong history from the Baroque to the Neoclassical, each temple has its own history from the imposing cathedral to the oldest, the Church of Sitiaba.

Distinguished and Royal Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

It is the largest cathedral in Central America and the third in Latin America, it can only be compared in beauty, magnitude and capacity with the cathedral of Mexico (1st) and the cathedral of Peru (2nd). There were 7 bishops who were in charge of directing the construction and the labor was indigenous from the towns of Sitiaba Naboríos, Telica, Quezalguaque, and Posoltega, the construction materials were quarried stones, clay bricks, sand, rotten lime mixed with chicken egg shell.

Sutiaba Church

This interesting church was started in 1698 and finished in 1710. It was the work of the silo and citizen of the unequalled corregidor of Sutiaba, the war captain Don Diego Rodrigo Mendez. This church is the only one in the Sutiaba neighborhood that has withstood the adversities of time and the horrors of political turbulence. It is a very popular baroque style, very interesting both on the façade and inside, where tourists can appreciate the indigenous influences in the faces of the saints and in the fruits of the altarpieces. On the front of this very important church is sculpted the sacred image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, authentic works of the friars. In this church there are monuments of incalculable value of art, and several more beautiful Spanish picturesque altars are still preserved.

The recollection

This church was built in 1786, with the first stone being laid by Bishop Juan Félix de Villegas on 5 December of that same year. It was founded by the Recollection Fathers of the Congregation of St. Francis de Nery. Next to the church, the Recollection School was built on 22 November 1880, and its founder was Sister Victoria Holfembein, a member of the Congregation of the Brothers of St. Vincent de Paul.

Church of El Calvario

It was built in the first half of the 18th century. At the end of the 19th century, the tower on the south side was in a very bad state and had practically collapsed, so at the beginning of the 20th century it was rebuilt, preserving its original appearance.

Guadalupe Church

The church was built at the end of the 19th century under the auspices of Father Villamil, replacing an 18th century hermitage that served as the nucleus of the Guadalupe neighborhood. In this religious building, volumetric simplicity prevails, typical of the Franciscan order. This is the only temple whose façade faces north, supposedly to give greater notoriety to the visual end of the avenue that connects it to the city center.

Church of Zaragoza

Located in the neighbourhood of the same name, it is structured in the traditional way with its atrium and side corridor, separated by the layout of its old square. The surrounding environment respects the urban continuity with a predominance of popular housing. Its construction was started between 1884-1886 and completed in 1934 by Monsignor Salmerón. Graphic documents from the end of the last century have shown that the work originally conceived had different shapes from the current one, presuming that what was already advanced was demolished in order to start it again.

Iglesia de San Francisco

Located on Calle Real. The original temple and convent were founded in 1639 by Friar Pedro de Zúñiga. The old convent located to the north of the Church was demolished in the mid-70s. The Church has undergone many interventions, with very few of its original elements remaining; at the beginning of the 60s, the main façade was destroyed to make way for the one we see today.

Church of Laborio

El Laborío is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city of León, Nicaragua, whose first inhabitants were Indians, naborías, which means free Indian, and they were the ones who dedicated themselves primarily to artisanal work, thus maintaining the city's economy. On October 10, 1618, Don Felipe III of Valladolid, Spain ordered the construction of a church, which had to be built on the highest spot in the neighborhood, and the missionaries of the conquest complied with this mandate, building the church in the same place where it is currently located.

Ecotourism

black hill

Located 25 kilometers east of the city of León, entering through the community of Los Lechecuagos or the entrance of the Oscar Pérez Cassar Cast, you can visit the emblematic Cerro Negro volcano.

One of the youngest volcanoes on the continent, do extreme sports such as sand boarding, which consists of sliding down the volcano with specialized sports equipment, It will undoubtedly be a once in a lifetime experience. You can also practice mountain biking, hiking and observe the beautiful view from the top of the volcano.

Within the area you will find an interpretation center where you can learn about the particularities of this black colossus. It has tourist guides who will accompany you on your tours. Also, if you want to stay and learn a little more about the place, you can stay in small hostels where you can practice rural community tourism.

These are located in the El Porvenir and Los Calero regions, 14 kilometers from the city of León. In the rural area of the San Felipe neighborhood, where you can observe the area and the river, although it is not possible to enter its waters.

Juan Venado Island Nature Reserve

An island of Quaternary origin, formed by marine and continental deposits of sand and clay that occupy a barrier that extends from northwest to southeast, parallel to the Pacific coast. It is located between the Las Peñitas Estuary and the Salinas Grande Estuary.

Visiting the beaches of Juan Venado is an unforgettable experience, because between September and December many paslama turtles arrive to spawn, a surprising event of nature.

The estuary has multiple branches where you can navigate slowly and enjoy the mangrove landscape, observe marine and terrestrial species that seek habitat and food in this rich ecosystem; The nesting colonies of waterfowl is something spectacular. The adrenaline rises to the maximum when these rivers are crossed at night, since many lizards of considerable size can be observed or captured.

Leon volcanoes

One of the fascinating attractions of the department of León are the volcanoes

The volcanic chain, called Los Maribios, runs through the entire department and gives it a unique image. These impressive colossi, which include the most active in Nicaragua, can be seen from far away. The volcanoes of Leon are interesting and can be explored. Among them is the youngest in Central America, El Cerro Negro, a dark sand hill that offers good climbing possibilities as well as sand skiing. Another climbing option is the Telica Volcano, which has a huge crater and beautiful panoramic views. The most notable volcano in Leon is the active Momotombo, which offers one of the most challenging climbs on its almost perfect cone, but also splendid views of the surroundings. A volcano whose summit is difficult to reach, but equally good for climbing, is El Hoyo, which has an unusual hole on one of its sides.

Telica volcano

Telica Volcano is continuously emitting gases and ash and lava can be seen at the bottom of its crater. There is no access road to the foot of the volcano, so you will have to walk a bit before you reach it. Staying overnight in the crater is an option.

State: Asset

Degree of difficulty: 6

Last Eruption: 2004

Elevation: 1,061 m

Activities: Excursions

Cerro Negro volcano

The Cerro Negro volcano was formed less than 160 years ago (in 1850) and is the youngest volcano in Central America.

State: Asset

Degree of difficulty: 3

Last Eruption: 1999

Elevation: 728 m

Activities: Climbing, Sandboarding

El Hoyo Volcano

El Hoyo Volcano is a volcanic complex made up of several structures. Currently, the most significant is the El Hoyo Volcano. It can be located by a hole in one of its slopes. There is no road leading to the base of the volcano; it is advisable to arrive on horseback.

Condition: Inactive

Degree of difficulty: 5

Last Eruption: 1954

Elevation: 1,050 m

Activities: Climb

Momotombo volcano

One of the most significant landscapes in Nicaragua. This volcano with an almost perfect conical shape can be seen from many places. Climbing Momotombo is a real challenge, it is one of the highest volcanoes in Nicaragua.