Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(see 45)
D4
C5
Shopping
F1
Sights
León is the most culturally rich of Nicaragua's cities; architecture and museum buffs will
want to spend a few days exploring.
THE CITY OF CHURCHES
With more than 16 places to pray, including several more in Barrio Subtiava, the city tourist
board is lobbying to have León officially declared 'The City of Churches.'
the city, a national heritage site with lots of gold, a gorgeous nave and a rather rococo interior. It
was abandoned between 1830 and 1881, then refurbished with two elaborate altarpieces for San
Antonio and Nuestra Señora de La Merced (Our Lady of Mercy). The attached
Convent San
1979 battle for León. Check out what used to be the convent at Hotel El Convento.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
, built in 1743, is León's only church oriented north-south,
and it's historically connected to the city by the 1850
Puente Guadalupe
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
, built across the Río Chiquito. And don't let the dumpy, modernist, neoclassic
you - when it's open, the interior is one of the city's prettiest, with lots of precious wood and a
very human scale.
For something completely different, swing by ultra-Gothic 1884
Iglesia Zaragoza
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
, one of the best spots for film students to stage a vampire
flick. They could also use one of the several ruined churches around town, including
Ruinas
Veracruz
and Iglesia Santiago (
Click here
) in Barrio Subtiava, and
Ruinas San Sebastian
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
, near La XXI (the 21st Garrison).
Central León