Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Enjoy your treat in front of the eternal (more or less) flame at
Mausoleo de los Héroes y
Mártires
(
Click here
), on the northern side of the park, where a phenomenal and heartbreaking
mural traces Nicaraguan history from the Spanish conquest to the most recent revolution, com-
plete with smoking volcanoes.
Dominating the plaza is
Basílica de la Asunción
(
Click here
), Central America's largest
cathedral; take a rooftop tour early for the clearest views of the Volcáns Maribios.
On the southern side of the cathedral is 1679
Colegio La Asunción
, the first theological
college in Nicaragua. It was partially destroyed by fire in 1935 and rebuilt in its current Gothic
style. Next door is
Palacio Episcopal
(Bishop's Palace), designed by Marcelo Targa and one
of the first buildings to display Leónese neoclassical architecture. In this group of buildings,
Archivo Histórico Dicesano de León
has documents dating back to 1674.
Continuing around the cathedral is the 1680
Colegio de San Ramón
. Revolutionary hero
Miguel Larreynaga, who drafted the first Central American constitution, was educated here. The
college was rebuilt in 1752, and housed the Universidad Autónoma, Nicaragua's first university.
Though it's been a high school since 1945, paintings of all León's bishops are still on display.
Head south on 1a Ave SE, then west on 3a Calle SO one block, then south one block on Av
Central to visit
La XXI
(
Click here
), an old military garrison that's today home to the truly
fabulous
Museo de Leyendas y Tradiciones
(
Click here
); check out the mosaic tile work at
the entrance. Across the street are the photogenic
Ruinas San Sebastián
; the church was
bombed almost into oblivion in 1979.
Backtrack through pleasant Mercado Central, then make a right on Calle Central Rubén Darío
to the early-18th-century
Iglesia El Calvario
(
Click here
), famed for its comic book-style
facade. Close by,
Antiguo Reformatorio de Menores
(Old Reform School) is a rare, almost
all original
casa pinariega-
style building.
Head north on 3a Av NE, stopping in to bug out at
Museo Entomológico
(
Click here
).
Then it's on to somewhat scruffy 1625
Iglesia San Juan de Dios
, rebuilt in 1860 in the mod-
ernist neoclassical style. Close by is
Mercado San Juan
OFFLINE MAP
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and the
old train station
, constructed in 1882 with austere lines and simple, utilitarian
design.
Backtrack two blocks along 4a Av NE to 2a Calle NE and make a right to reach the unmissable
1786
Iglesia de La Recolección
(
Click here
) after three blocks. This ornate, ultra-baroque
masterpiece was described by one critic as 'the most important monument to passion in Ni-
caragua.'
Two blocks west on 2a Calle NE is the flagship campus of
UNAN
(
Click here
), with sever-
al beautiful buildings, and a collection of cheap restaurants and festive bars.
From the UNAN campus, head south on 1a Av NO for the 1615
Iglesia de La Merced
(
Click here
), another of León's signature churches, then head west on 1a Calle NO to
Galería
de Héroes y Mártires
(
Click here
), with photos of the revolution's fallen. Continue west, stop-
ping at
La Casa de Cultura
(
Click here
), with its excellent art collection (including a portrait
