Gaspar García Laviana (Asturias 1941-Nicaragua 1978) was a priest, poet and guerrilla of Spanish origin who joined the Sandinista struggle in Nicaragua. He arrived in the country in 1969, and was assigned to the parish of San Juan del Sur, a small port and fishing town on the Pacific coast where Almost all the parishioners were peasants, and where poverty and abuses of the Anastasio Somoza government were rampant, He started writing poems and stories As a way of expressing the feeling that invaded him for the suffering of his neighbor, later at the end of 1977 convinced that his role as a Christian went beyond the preaching of the gospel, he returned to Spain to give up his habits and say goodbye to his family, then returned to Nicaragua and joined the ranks of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN).
Gaspar died in the early hours of December 11, 1978. in a reedbed next to the Mena River, in the municipality of Cárdenas, Nicaragua. Every year the date of his death is commemorated with events held in Cárdenas, under the cross that marks the place where Gaspar gave his life.
Gaspar García Laviana Memorial Park
A place where you can breathe fresh air and observe wildlife. Of great historical value, because it was here that the guerrilla priest Gaspar García Laviana, of Asturian origin, who came to Nicaragua to exercise his priesthood and joined the fight against the Somoza dictatorship, fell in combat. It is located 12 kilometers from the town center, in the community of Río Mena.
Mena River
It is a natural site full of great diversity of plants and animals, 30 meters wide; in this place you can take trails on the river bank and the surroundings, in addition to observing the flora and fauna.
Here you will learn about the fall in combat of Commander Gaspar García Laviana in the fight against the Somoza dictatorship. This museum is located 12 kilometers from the urban area in the community of Río Mena.
Cardenas seafront
Located on the shores of Lake Cocibolca, it has an excellent view of the Great Lake. It was built in 2008. It is a beautiful place where you can appreciate a beautiful panoramic view of the Island of Ometepe, observe its two imposing volcanoes and enjoy the fresh waters of Cocibolca. Here you can rest under the shade of small tiled roof kiosks, and find establishments that offer bar and restaurant services. The boardwalk is located to the east of the town center.
Municipal Park Heroes and Martyrs of Cárdenas
It has modern and colourful children's games, including swings and slides. It has benches for resting, a kiosk and green areas.
Families can enjoy a healthy and safe environment. Here you can relax and walk along the platforms surrounded by nature. If you are a sports lover, take a stroll along the municipal courts to recreate yourself, watching a good game of the sport of your choice.
Gaspar Garcia Laviana Monument
San Juan Bautista Parish Church
Built in 1899, in neocolonial style with Gothic elements, it was restored in 2001.
Christ of Mercy
Located northeast of the bay, it is a sculpture of Jesus Christ of enormous dimensions that forms part of the city's ornamentation; it measures 15 meters high and the base of the pedestal is 9 meters; a work designed and created by the artist Max Ulloa and financed by the Nicaraguan businessman Erwin González.
→See Beaches of San Juan del Sur
Park of the Heroes and Martyrs of Tola
This site is a historic place, where some of the heroes and martyrs who fought in the 1979 uprising and during the counterrevolutionary war in the 80s are buried.
The remains of Commander Ezequiel and Father Gaspar García Laviana are also buried there.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
Its architecture is sober and simple. A beautiful religious temple where you can observe the sacred art that is kept inside.
Monumental Sculpture of The Bride of Tola
Erected in commemoration of the story of La Novia de Tola, an event that took place in 1860, when a young woman from Tola was abandoned in the church by her fiancé on her wedding day. The event was talked about in the city and spread throughout the country, until it became a play.
Map of the Corridor
