Leon: Budget Travel Guide, Leon, Nicaragua

Leon is a charming colonial city in the north-west of Nicaragua. Despite its many historical buildings, the current city of Leon isn’t actually the original Leon – the city was originally founded on a different site which is known today as Leon Viejo. Leon Viejo was the city founded by Cordoba in the 16th century. Leon as we know it today was only settled in 1610 after the Momotombo volcano erupted and destroyed the old city of Leon. The modern city of Leon and Leon Viejo are around 30 km apart in distance. Leon Viejo has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it’s still possible to see the ruins of the old city. Leon was also the home of Rubén Darío (famous Nicaraguan poet) and capital of the Sandinista movement until the fall of the Somoza dictatorship.

Leon has a long and historic rivalry with the other major Nicaraguan colonial town, Granada. Historically, Leon was the centre for Liberals whilst Granada was the seat of the Conservatives. The feud between the two for political prominence began in the early 19th century when both fought to be the capital of Nicaragua. During the 1840’s, civil war broke out over the dispute and the title of capital flitted between the two. The argument was finally settled in 1852 with Managua granted the title of being the capital of Nicaragua, Managua being approximately halfway between Leon and Granada. Leon has played an important role in Nicaragua’s history, and it is known as ‘capital of the revolution’ due to its role in many uprisings over the years. The streets of Leon are lined with memorials of those killed in the name of various revolutions. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).