 |
| School's out in Leon |
 |
| Young Love on the Square in Leon |
 |
| Bishop's Palace in Leon |
 |
| Cathedral of Leon - painting near main altar |
 |
| Ruben Dario tomb with grieving lion (Leon) |
 |
| Public transport in Leon |
 |
| Street side market stall in Leon |
 |
| Fruit vendor in Leon |
 |
| Ruben Dario - handsome poet of Latin America |
 |
| Bell Tower of Leon Cathedral |
 |
| Leon Cathedral |
 |
National hero's column in front of Cathedral.
The statue depicted the hero originally dressed in tights exposing his 'bare' behind towards the church. He was an atheist, however, the church made the sculptor's add a stone cape to cover the offending body part |
 |
| Work on the cupola of the Cathedral |
 |
| Memorial wall mural - Civil war in the Streets of Leon |
 |
| Side Street of Leon |
1502 saw Columbus visiting the Moskito Coast after he was almost shipwrecked in a storm. Further explorations were led by Gil Gonzales Davila a few years later starting from his Pacific Panama base.
In 1524 Conquistador Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba founded Old Leon. The conquistadors subjugated the local Nicaro people and a number of smaller tribes. Their slave labour was used to build Leon Viejo.
By 1610 is became another Pompeii, as it was not destroyed but covered by ashes during a explosion of Momotombo, one of the active volcanoes.
A new city was built immediately, somewhat distant from the reach of the threatening volcano which put an end to the old one, and despite earthquakes and volcanic eruptions it's historic buildings survived. Architectural treasures, such as the central Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace are stunning proof of solid colonial construction.
 |
| Cathedral and Souvenir Stalls on the central plaza of Leon |
Leon Viejo was excavated starting in 1960 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000. It appears to have been a very wealthy city, its architecture rivalling the one back in Spanish Granada. Beside ruins of historic buildings one may also see the site, where the founder, Cordoba was murdered after infighting and greed made him unpopular. His assassin's remains (Pedriarias Davila) were found next to his headless body.
The 'new' Leon is recognized as the intellectual centre of Nicaragua, and is not only home to the sprawling National University but also to the Latin American equivalent of Shakespeare: Felix Ruben Garcia Sarmiento, better known as Ruben Dario, who lived between 1867 and1916, is considered the greatest Latin American poet, initiating the Spanish American Modernismo literary movement. Dario is buried in Leon's Cathedral, his tomb is decorated by a grieving lion, the 'Leon'.
Nicaragua is not exactly a tourist Mecca, but it is certainly an eye opener to compassionate and interested visitors. One may hope that the political, economic and environmental situation will improve sufficiently to grant this long suffering people a better future life.
