Leon

We left beach paradise in Las penitas and made our way inland to the city of Leon where the streets are covered in bullet holes and colorful murals left over from the revolution, when radical poets, students, and farmers overthrew the US-backed Somoza dynasty in 1979.

The rebellion started in León: it was there in 1956 that a local poet shot dead the first of three Somoza dictators at a party. Students from León and Managua formed the Sandinista National Liberation Front and León was the first city to be liberated when the Sandinistas eventually wrested power back from the Somozas in 1979.

Although current President Daniel Ortega has himself been accused of corruption, the people of León still identify strongly with the Sandinista Party and its early achievements.

The city of León is named after León in Spain and, for some time during Nicaragua’s history, it was argued that León should serve as the country’s capital instead of Granada. The debate was eventually settled when Managua was named the country’s new capital. 

León is known for having some of the best colonial architecture in the country, particularly its huge cathedral....it is one of the biggest in Central America. The Cathedral features three main levels – the lower, intermediate and superior. Each level represents something different. The lower level features several underground sections that have been used as crypts for many centuries. Construction on the building started in 1746 and lasted roughly 100 years.

The coolest part it the cathedral roof....it looks like a winter wonderland and had great view of the city and surrounding volcanoes.

We quite liked, Leon..it was hot and busy but charming! Tomorrow we hike a nearby volcano!