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Iglesia de San Juan--Interior Views
atufft Says: In part because most of the structure is rebuilt on the back of the outstanding facade bell tower entrance, the interior is less impressive than some other churches. Nevertheless, stop in an take a peek.
Iglesia de San Juan--Plaza Views
atufft Says: The parque plaza, particularly the hedge like clipped trees lining it, is impressive. Narrow streets from Iglesia Del Calvario provide another view of the exterior of the San Juan. A plate on the church shows that France provided some funding for restoration.
Ruinas de la Ermita de San Sebastian
atufft Says: The ruins of a church, now sheltered for restoration, are across the street from the Museum of Traditions and Legends, and was also fenced off and closed at the time we visited. Moon guide reports that this church was built on sacred ground used by the indigenous people, in...
More from Museums of Traditions and Legends
atufft Says: The museum is heartbreaking for its history of political prisoner torture, but it's also very interesting for explaining with mannequins some 14 local legends. Most of them have a pattern of some broken romance or abuse, where a type of woman faces tragic lost of love and...
Iglesia El Calvario--Interior Images
atufft Says: The interior has gory images of Christ. Overall, if you have only time to visit one church after the Cathedral, this would be the best choice of many options. An exterior plate indicates a role of this church in the Sandinista revolution.
Iglesia Del Calvario--Exterior Images
atufft Says: As the name suggests, this church is located on a hill, and can be seen from the cathedral along Calle Central. Walk up the steps to the church with red ocher towers, then look back into town over the checked red and white plaza. This church has several worn pieces of art of...
atufft Says: Barrio Laborio, near the old church of the same name is partly along the Calle la Españolita, reportedly one of the oldest streets in the city. Given the large number of mud brick and wattle homes in this area, this is very likely the best place to see early colonial...
atufft Says: On the southwest corner of downtown on a rise above the old colonial neighborhood, known as Barrio Laborio, is the fully restored Iglesia El Laborio, which Moon guide reports is one of the oldest in the city. The simple architecture and setting of this church is stunning,...
La Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco
atufft Says: Originally built in 1639, making it one of the older churches in Leon, this building has obviously been restored several times. Nevertheless, the courtyard of trees makes this a pleasant setting. It also has three nice bronze bells. Inside is a rather unusual ceiling and...
Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Merced
atufft Says: Restoration is a major effort among the churches of Leon, which has more than it's share of work in this regard. A good example is La Merced. This baroque style church was built in 1762. Interior ceiling is entirely made of mahogany.
atufft Says: Striking yellow paint, swirling columns, and seemingly secular symbols (such as gaming dice and wheat) supposed to represent the life of Christ, are stunning features of the exterior of this church, which Moon guide reports is only building make of carved stone. Sign outside...
Museum of Traditions and Legends
atufft Says: Just a few blocks from Leon's Cathedral was Somoza's most brutal National Guard unit. Somoza was originally put in charge of the National Guard of Nicaragua, an army created by the USA, and it was at this location where for 60 years, political prisoners were tortured and...
46 Opinions
Pichariditos: French and Mexican Food in Leon
atufft Says: This place featured French crepes, but they weren't available at the time we visited. So, I opted for the Mexican style soft corn torilla tacos, while my wife had chicken. This is a popular place in central Leon, 2 blocks north of the Parque Los Poetas. I believe on the...
Restaurante El Sesteo: Nica Tamales Near the Cathedral
atufft Says: This restaurant was recommended by the hotel, and indeed when we arrived, the place was crowded with tourists. It's located right within view of the cathedral, which at the time we visited was surrounded by fencing as the plaza was being repaved. There is a wall with the...
Leon is not particularly dangerous even at night, so go ahead and walk around a bit. Most of the city is dimly lit, but occasionally there are lighted buildings. Be careful of fast traffic in the narrow streets.
Updated Feb 11, 2013
atufft Says: Don't get fooled into believing the bus trip from Granada to Leon via Managua is difficult or dangerous. There are regular buses leaving both Leon and Granada destine for Managua. Since there are multiple stations in Managua, make sure the bus conductor knows of your plans....
mircaskirca Says: Buses to the beaches of Poneloya and Las Peñitas leave from Subtiava Market in the western part of the city. Fortunately, I was staying in the vicinity so I could easily walk there. Otherwise, you can take a bus, taxi or walk, it's about 1,5 km from Parque Central. The...
Local crafts, as well as massive amounts of cheap Chinese imports, are sold by vendors inside the Central Market. Not so impressive from streetside, so what makes Leon's market interesting is the inside courtyard setting and mahogany ceilings for many of the vendors. This market with within a block of the cathedral. Back on the street, take in a great view of Iglesia Del Calvario along Calle Central.
Written Feb 11, 2013
Rubén Darío - Great Poet and Leon's Favourite Son
mircaskirca Says: Rubén Darío was a leading modernist poet, renowned for his innovations in Spanish poetry. He was born as Felix Rubén Garcia Sarmiento on 18 January 1867 in a little town named Metapa and then spent his childhood in León. The genius in Rubén started to show at the age of...
Helpfulness
Roughly 20 km west of León on the Pacific coast are the beaches of Poneloya and Las Peñitas. While Poneloya has long been popular with wealthy Nicaraguans who have luxury beachfront villas here, the nearby Las Peñitas is a wide sandy beach stretching for about 4 km, fronted by small hotels, bars and restaurants, and with a small fishing village behind. Here people are living their traditional life as fishermen and the environment is quiet and nice. There are not many tourists yet who have found this quiet and nice place to spend their holidays. You have long empty beach to walk and swim, go horseback riding along the beach, and if you like, the local fishermen will take you out fishing for a reasonable price. There’s also excellent surfing, with smallish regular waves that are perfect for beginners. Several places along the beach rent surfboards and offer lessons.
Close to the estuary in Las Peñitas is Reserva Natural Isla Juan Venado, a mangrove that provides habitat for hundreds of species of migratory birds, as well as crocodiles and other wetland creatures, and is also an important nesting beach for sea turtles. You can arrange a trip to Isla Juan Venado with most hotels or with one of the many boatmen in Las Peñitas.
During weekends and holidays, locals from the surrounding cities come to have picnic on the beach, play volleyball and swim in the ocean or inside the shallow bay next to the Nature Reserve. I spent Christmas day here, and boy, it got so crowded! It seemed like everybody headed for the beach that day to escape from the heat of the city. Then I returned another day during the week and could not believe it was the same place. It was quiet and peaceful, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere.
Updated Aug 28, 2011
Set between the Pacific Ocean and a jagged range of active volcanoes, León is the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua, and has a colonial charm unmatched elsewhere in the country, except...
If I hadn't stayed so many days in Granada I would have stayed at least one more day in León, but I was running out of time and had to make such a rush visit to this very interesting city full of...
I had planned ot spend just a couple of days in León, but ended up spending more than a week. It is an incredible colonial city located in the northwest of Nicaragua. The city itself houses an...
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