León, Nicaragua
Encyclopedia
León is a department in northwestern Nicaragua (5,138 km2). It is also the second largest city in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...

, after Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...

. It was founded by the Spaniards as Santiago de los Caballeros de León and rivals Granada, Nicaragua
Granada, Nicaragua
Granada is a city in western Nicaragua and the capital of the Granada Department. With an estimated population of 110,326 , it is Nicaragua's fourth most populous city. Granada is historically one of Nicaragua's most important cities, economically and politically...

, in the number of historic Spanish colonial homes and churches. As of 2005, the city had an estimated population of about 175,000 people which increases sharply during university season with many students coming from other Nicaraguan provinces. It is the capital and municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...

 of the León department
León (department)
León is a department in Nicaragua. It covers an area of 5,107 km² and has a population of 389,600 . The capital is the city of León.- Municipalities :# El Jicaral# El Sauce# La Paz Centro# Larreynaga# León# Nagarote# Quezalguaque...

.

León is located along the Río Chiquito (Chiquito River), some 90 km northwest of Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...

, and some 18 km east of the Pacific Ocean coast. Although less populous than Managua, León has long been the intellectual center of the nation, with its university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

 founded in 1813. León is also an important industrial, agricultural (sugar cane, cattle, peanut, plantain, sorghum) and commercial center for Nicaragua.

History

The first city named León in Nicaragua was established in 1524 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba
Francisco Hernández de Córdoba (founder of Nicaragua)
Francisco Hernández de Córdoba is usually reputed as the founder of Nicaragua, and in fact he founded two important Nicaraguan cities, Granada and León. The currency of Nicaragua is named the córdoba in his memory....

 about 20 miles east of the present site. The city was abandoned in 1610, for unknown reasons. The principal cause is commonly given as a necessary abandonment after an eruption of the Momotombo volcano
Momotombo
Momotombo is a stratovolcano in Nicaragua, not far from the city of León. It stands on the shores of Lago de Managua. An eruption of the volcano in 1610 forced inhabitants of the Spanish city of León to relocate about 30 miles west...

, located only a couple miles away, which left extensive damage in the form of flooding from Lake Managua
Lake Managua
Lake Managua is a lake in Nicaragua. The Spanish name is Lago de Managua or Lago Xolotlán. At 1,042 km², it is approximately long and wide. Similarly to the name of Lake Nicaragua, its name was coined by the Spanish conquerors from "Mangue" and agua...

. However, the speed of the construction of the new León suggest that the old city was in great part dismantled, moved, and rebuilt, and therefore must have happened before the destruction of the site by the volcano. Other possible reasons for the move include the need for fresh agricultural land, the need for higher concentrations of natives to use as a labour force, and perhaps also fear of Momotombo erupting - although unrecorded, it could have been releasing gas, ash, or other volcanic material for some time before the eventual eruption. The inhabitants decided to move to its current location next to the Indigenous
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...

 town of Subtiava. The ruins of the abandoned city are known as "León Viejo
León Viejo
León Viejo, is the place where the city of León was originally founded in what is now the town of Puerto Momotombo in the Municipality of La Paz Centro of the Department of León, Nicaragua. This city, after a popular consultation, was abandoned to be settled in another location...

" and were excavated in 1960. In the year 2000, León Viejo was declared a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

 World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...

.

León has fine examples of Spanish Colonial architecture, including the grand Cathedral of the Assumption, built from 1706 to 1740, with two towers added in 1746 and 1779. In the year 2011, the Cathedral of the Assumption was declared a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...

 World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...

.

When Nicaragua withdrew from the United Provinces of Central America in 1839, León became the capital of the new nation of Nicaragua. For some years the capital shifted back and forth between León and Granada, Nicaragua
Granada, Nicaragua
Granada is a city in western Nicaragua and the capital of the Granada Department. With an estimated population of 110,326 , it is Nicaragua's fourth most populous city. Granada is historically one of Nicaragua's most important cities, economically and politically...

, with Liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...

 regimes preferring León and Conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...

 ones Granada, until as a compromise Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...

 was agreed upon to be the permanent capital in 1858.

In 1950 the city of León had a population of 31,000 people. Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza García
Anastasio Somoza García
Anastasio Somoza García was officially the President of Nicaragua from 1 January 1937 to 1 May 1947 and from 21 May 1950 to 29 September 1956, but ruled effectively as dictator from 1936 until his assassination.-Biography:Somoza was born in San Marcos, Carazo Department in Nicaragua, the son of...

 was shot and mortally wounded in the city on September 21, 1956.

The building of El museo de tradiciones y leyendas
El museo de tradiciones y leyendas
El Museo de Tradiciones y Leyendas is located in León, Nicaragua. The museum building was once the infamous XXI jail where, from 1921 to 1979, many prisoners were tortured. Today, the prison cells depict Nicaraguan traditions and legends through puppet illustration, while wall paintings portray...

 was once the infamous XXI jail before the 1979 revolution
Sandinista National Liberation Front
The Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...

. There are also several political mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...

s around the city.

Heritage

The heritage of León is rich. Both monuments and natural places in response to the monuments include the following:
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, León, 2007.
  • Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of León, typical colonial baroque building was built between 1747 and 1814. Because strength of its walls has endured earthquakes, volcanic eruptions of the volcano
    Volcano
    2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...

     Cerro Negro
    Cerro Negro
    Cerro Negro is a volcano in the Cordillera de los Maribios mountain range in Nicaragua, about 10 km from the village of Malpaisillo. It is a very new volcano, the youngest in Central America, having first appeared in April 1850...

     and wars. In 1824, were placed several cannons on the roof during the siege of the city by conservative forces; and, in the uprising of June and July 1979 against the dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle
    Anastasio Somoza Debayle
    Anastasio Somoza Debayle was a Nicaraguan leader and officially the 73rd and 76th President of Nicaragua from 1 May 1967 to 1 May 1972 and from 1 December 1974 to 17 July 1979. As head of the National Guard, he was de facto ruler of the country from 1967 to 1979...

    , the guerrillas of the Sandinista National Liberation Front
    Sandinista National Liberation Front
    The Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...

     also used for war purposes.

This cathedral is one of the largest in Central America. It was the first episcopal seat of Nicaragua, since 1531, making it one of the oldest dioceses in the Americas. It is the tomb of the poet Rubén Darío
Rubén Darío
Félix Rubén García Sarmiento , known as Rubén Darío, was a Nicaraguan poet who initiated the Spanish-American literary movement known as modernismo that flourished at the end of the 19th century...

, at the foot of the statue
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...

 of St. Paul, leading figure of modernism and considered the Prince of the Castilian literature. In its crypts, designed to withstand earthquakes, are buried some illustrious people of the nation as Salomón de la Selva
Salomón de la Selva
Salomón de la Selva born in León Nicaragua on March 20, 1893 and died in Paris, France on February 5, 1959 was a Nicaraguan poet and honorary member of the Mexican Academy of Language.-Biography:...

 and Alfonso Cortés
Alfonso Cortés
Alfonso Cortés was a Nicaraguan poet. He is often referred to as the most important poet after Rubén Darío. Before his death, he often said he was "less important than Darío, but more profound".-Early life:...

, the hero Miguel Larreynaga
Miguel Larreynaga
Miguel Jerónimo Larreinaga y Silva was a Nicaraguan philosopher, humanist, lawyer and poet. He was one of the people who traveled to Spain in 1818 to ask for independence of the Central American Republic, which was granted to Nicaragua and four other counties in 1821...

 and musician José de la Cruz Mena.

There are a number of tunnels that connect this church with other churches in León. In the early 20th century the first bishop of León and last in Nicaragua, Archbishop Simeón Pereira y Castellón (the same who presided over the funerals of Darío on 13 February 1916) commissioned the Granadan sculptor Jorge Navas Cordonero make the statue of the Virgin Mary above the front of the facade, the Atlanteans that are among the gables and the towers. Navas also sculpted the statues of the Twelve Apostles, along with the columns of the central nave, like the lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...

 of the tomb of the poet, much look like at the Lion
Lion Monument
The Lion Monument , or the Lion of Lucerne, is a sculpture in Lucerne, Switzerland, designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn in 1820–21 by Lukas Ahorn...

 of Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...

, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

, and various decorations inside the church and its Tabernacle Chapel.

  • Church of Subtiava was considered the main church after the cathedral. Its construction began in 1698, at time of magistrate Diego Rodríguez Menéndez and was completed August 24, 1710. In the war with El Salvador, in 1844, disappeared the dome that crowned the tower so was re-built in the early 20th century again.

  • Church of San Francisco is part of the convent of San Francisco, one of the oldest in Nicaragua, founded in 1639 by Friar Pedro de Zúñiga. The interior remains two good examples of plateresque
    Plateresque
    Plateresque, meaning "in the manner of a silversmith" , was an artistic movement, especially architectural, traditionally held to be exclusive to Spain and its territories, which appeared between the late Gothic and early Renaissance in the late 15th century, and spread over the next two centuries...

     altars.

  • Church of La Recolección, construction began on December 5, 1786, by Bishop Juan Félix de Villegas. made thanks to the gatherer fathers of congregation San Francisco de Nery. It is a good baroque facade (of Mexican Baroque), considered the most important of the city. Its altar, also Baroque, is one of the best altarpieces of the city. Highlights the paintings and engravings with which it adorns.

  • Church La Merced, in 1762 the Mercedarian fathers built their convent and the church that were demolished. In the 18th century was rise the present Church of La Merced with drawings attributed to Mercedario
    Mercedario
    Cerro Mercedario is the highest peak of the Cordillera de la Ramada range and the eighth highest mountain of the Andes. It is located 100 km to the north of Aconcagua, in the Argentine province of San Juan...

     Friar Pedro de Ávila and conducted by master Pascual Somarriba. Adjacent to the north side is the building del Paraninfo (former mercedario convent), main building of the UNAN-León.

  • Church El Calvario, interesting town-planning for its spatial distribution, this church dates from the first half of the 18th century but was modified the north tower in the 20th century. It was built by the illustrious Mayorga Family.

  • Ruins of the Church of San Sebastián, built in the late 17th century as a chapel of the Cathedral and was one of the first religious buildings of the city. Re-built in late 18th century by Colonel Joaquín Arrechavala. It was bombed during the siege of León by airplanes of Nicaraguan Air Force in 1979, due was made of adobe was easily destroyed unlike other churches, which, being built of brick and stone quarry, endured the fighting.

  • Church Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, built in the late 19th century under the auspices of father Villamil replacing an hermitage of 18th century, is of simple construction, in keeping with the sobriety of the Franciscan
    Franciscan
    Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....

    s.

  • Church of Zaragoza, with an atrium and lateral corridor, its construction began in the late 19th century and ended in mid-20th century by Bishop Salmerón, the facade was designed by Dr. Francisco Mateo.

  • Church San Felipe, a large building that occupies an entire block, was built in 1685 for blacks and mulattos can pray. In 1859 undergoes extensive expansion that gives the present form, the tower was restored in 1983.

  • Church Hermitage of San Pedro, a small building with typical popular architecture of the 18th century. It was built between 1706 and 1718 by the mayor Bartolomé González Fitoria, replacing the original church of San Pedro that was part of a set of four primitive hermitages in Subtiava.

  • Church San Nicolás de Tolentino del Laborío, Philip III of Spain
    Philip III of Spain
    Philip III , also known as Philip the Pious, was the King of Spain and King of Portugal and the Algarves, where he ruled as Philip II , from 1598 until his death...

     ordered its construction in 1618. Of Colonial baroque style, is of lines very light.

  • Chapel de la Asunción, part of the school of the same name and was built in 1679 by Bishop Andrés de las Navas y Quevedo, used as an episcopal palace. Later it was occupied by the Mothers of the Assumption, and in 1935, were made deep reforms that led to the current appearance.

  • Hotel Esfinge building designed by Nicaraguan architect José María Ibarra like upscale hotel.

  • Esquivel House, Built in the 19th century belonged to Father Mariano Dubon 20th century around the house detail and decoration of the structure makes it unique in this city the house now belongs to the Esquivel Family and this is categorized and rated as high-class residence.

  • Colegio San Ramón, of symmetrical facade and Renaissance influences has been raised several times due was destroyed by earthquakes. Has been occupied by the university and has had seminar roles.

  • City Hall, built in 1935, was damaged in 1979 by Somoza's repression of the National Guard
    National Guard (Nicaragua)
    In Nicaragua, the National Guard was a militia and a gendarmerie created during the occupation of that country by the United States from 1909 to 1933. It became notorious for human rights abuses and corruption under the regime of the Somoza family.-Creation:...

     against the rise of the FSLN
    Sandinista National Liberation Front
    The Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...

    . The building was designed by architect Marcelo Targa, precursor of neoclassical
    Neoclassical architecture
    Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...

     architecture in Leon, following the artistic movement of the late 20th century. It was built during the administration of Juan Bautista Sacasa
    Juan Bautista Sacasa
    Juan Bautista Sacasa Sacasa was the President of Nicaragua from 1 January 1933 to 9 June 1936. He was the eldest son of Roberto Sacasa, 44th and 46th President of Nicaragua, and wife and cousin Ángela Sacasa Cuadra...

    . It is a building of important architectural value.

  • León Viejo
    León Viejo
    León Viejo, is the place where the city of León was originally founded in what is now the town of Puerto Momotombo in the Municipality of La Paz Centro of the Department of León, Nicaragua. This city, after a popular consultation, was abandoned to be settled in another location...

    , the ruins of the ancient city of León which was buried by eruptions of the volcano Momotombo
    Momotombo
    Momotombo is a stratovolcano in Nicaragua, not far from the city of León. It stands on the shores of Lago de Managua. An eruption of the volcano in 1610 forced inhabitants of the Spanish city of León to relocate about 30 miles west...

    , most of them in 1610. Was founded in 1524 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba
    Francisco Hernández de Córdoba (founder of Nicaragua)
    Francisco Hernández de Córdoba is usually reputed as the founder of Nicaragua, and in fact he founded two important Nicaraguan cities, Granada and León. The currency of Nicaragua is named the córdoba in his memory....

    , it is situated 30 km from the modern city, is a World Heritage Site
    World Heritage Site
    A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...

     and in this is buried its founder, in a crypt, beneath his statue along with other characters including Pedrarias Dávila
    Pedrarias Dávila
    Pedrarias Dávila y Ortiz de Cota , was a Spanish colonial administrator...

     his murderer.


There are more buildings and important places, like the walls of the cemetery of Guadalupe, the Guadalupe Bridge, Sutiava Rural House or the train station.



Geological features around Leon include:
  • Poneloya beach, a major tourist destination on the Pacific Ocean.

  • San Jacinto Swarms, geothermal place at the base of the Santa Clara volcano and constitute part of its vents. This phenomenon is known as Thermal sharpen to simmer.

  • Momotombo volcano, with its 1300 m summit, it is the reference to Leonese visual landscape. At its base lies León Viejo. The name is a Native American word for Great Summit Burning. A geothermal power generation exists onsite.

  • Cerro Negro volcano, one of the youngest of the earth (1850), has caused trouble for the population of León through its ashfall in recent eruptions.

Notable people

  • José de la Cruz Mena, greatest Nicaraguan classical composer (1874–1907).
  • Azarías Pallais
    Azarias Pallais
    Azarías de Jesús Pallais or Azarías H. Pallais is regarded as one of Nicaragua's greatest poets. He was born in León. Pallais's father was a medical doctor and his mother was a niece of liberal statesman Maximo Jerez...

    , one of Nicaragua's greatest poets and literary figures (1884–1954).
  • Alfonso Cortés
    Alfonso Cortés
    Alfonso Cortés was a Nicaraguan poet. He is often referred to as the most important poet after Rubén Darío. Before his death, he often said he was "less important than Darío, but more profound".-Early life:...

    , most renowned Nicaraguan poet after Rubén Darío (1893–1969).
  • Salomón de la Selva
    Salomón de la Selva
    Salomón de la Selva born in León Nicaragua on March 20, 1893 and died in Paris, France on February 5, 1959 was a Nicaraguan poet and honorary member of the Mexican Academy of Language.-Biography:...

    , poet, writer, diplomatic, translated W Whitman to Spanish (1893–1959).
  • Antenor Sandino, greatest metaphysical poet (1899–1969).
  • Anastasio Somoza Debayle
    Anastasio Somoza Debayle
    Anastasio Somoza Debayle was a Nicaraguan leader and officially the 73rd and 76th President of Nicaragua from 1 May 1967 to 1 May 1972 and from 1 December 1974 to 17 July 1979. As head of the National Guard, he was de facto ruler of the country from 1967 to 1979...

    , Nicaraguan president
    President of Nicaragua
    The position of President of Nicaragua was created in the Constitution of 1854. From 1825 until the Constitution of 1838 the title of the position was known as Head of State and from 1838 to 1854 as Supreme Director .-Heads of State of Nicaragua within the Federal Republic of Central America...

     (1st term: 1967–1972, 2nd term: 1974–1979); overthrown
    Nicaraguan Revolution
    The Nicaraguan Revolution encompasses the rising opposition to the Somoza dictatorship in the 1960s and 1970s, the campaign led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front which led to the violent ousting of that dictatorship in 1979, and the...

     by the Sandinistas
    Sandinista National Liberation Front
    The Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...

    .
  • Enrique Bermúdez
    Enrique Bermúdez
    Enrique Bermúdez Varela was a Nicaraguan who founded and commanded the Nicaraguan Contras. In this capacity, he became a central global figure in one of the most prominent conflicts of the Cold War....

    , Nicaraguan Contra leader (1932–1991).

Sister cities

Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...

, Germany Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...

, United Kingdom Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...

, USA New Haven, Connecticut, USA Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...

, Netherlands Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...

, Sweden Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...

, Spain Janesville, Wisconsin
Janesville, Wisconsin
Janesville is a city in southern Wisconsin, United States. It is the county seat of Rock County and the principal municipality of the Janesville, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 62,998.-History:...

, USA

External links

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