Posts tagged Lake Managua
The Colonial Style and Character of Leon, Nicaragua
Sep 18th
The city of León was founded in 1524 by the conqueror Francisco Hernández de Córdoba. This city was abandoned in 1610 after an eruption of the Momotombo volcano left extensive damage and flooding from Lake Managua. The city was moved some kilometers further away from Momotombo, to the location where it is today, next to the indigenous town of Subtiava, which it later merged with. The ruins of León Viejo or Old León were excavated in 1960 and placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in the year 2000.
León has always been one of the most important cities of Nicaragua, economically and culturally. The city functioned several times as the capital city after Nicaragua’s independence from Spain in 1821 until Managua was established as capital in 1858.
Some things that won’t go unnoticed in León are that it is very hot and the many students make the city seem young and vibrant. It is considered the intellectual center of Nicaragua with its several universities, the first founded in 1813.
León is regarded as an important agricultural, industrial and commercial center of the country due to its production of sugar cane, cattle and peanuts. León used to be the hub of cotton growing but the cotton economy has declined. Tourism is not very big although it is popular amongst more seasoned travelers and is growing.
The culture of León reflects Spanish and Native American heritage. León holds many colorful celebrations to commemorate local saints’ days and ecclesiastical events. A majority of the citizens are Catholics but Protestants and Evangelicals continue to grow.
León still has an architecturally interesting center with many old, colonial houses, streets, monuments, and churches. The churches La Merced, El Calvario, San Juan, San Francisco, Sutiava and La Recolección are among the most interesting. The Cathedral in the central square is one of the highlights of a visit to Leon. A very stunning display of grand neo-classical architecture, the place is beautifully maintained, and the walls are decorated with exquisite frescoes.
Another major attraction in the department of León is the volcanoes. A range of volcanoes, the Maribios Range cuts across the department. Among the volcanoes is the youngest in all of Central America: Cerro Negro or “Black Hill”. Nicaraguans refer to some of the volcanoes as “cerros” or hills but the name “volcán” is also used. This black hill offers great possibilities for hiking as well as for sand-skiing or volcano boarding. More climbing can be done on the Telica Volcano, which has a huge crater and fantastic views. The Momotombo active volcano is one of the most challenging volcanoes to climb.
Located in one of León’s most notorious former prisons, the Museum of Traditions and Legends offers paper-mache style exhibits detailing the site’s gruesome history. The museum also explores the region’s legends and folklore. The exhibitions themselves aren’t very impressive but the prison itself is an interesting building and its bullet-scarred walls hold a lot of history. There are also some interesting political and historical murals painted outside as well as in other parts of León.
Managua, the Capital of Nicaragua and Unique American City
Sep 16th
Orientation
The capital of Nicaragua has a lot to offer the interested traveler. So long as you don’t expect everything or anything to go exactly as you planned. It is the central hub for all flights and bus destinations. The city is one of perpetual summer and the heat does take some getting used to. There are few remaining colonial buildings or downtown buildings as most of that was destroyed in the big earthquake of 1972.
The city is easy to get lost in but you can always ask which the lake is to find North. The shore of Lake Managua forms the northern boundary of the city and in giving directions the people say “towards the lake” instead of North. The outdoor markets, bus stations, modern commercial centers and shopping malls are the major landmarks along with the lake. In the middle of the city, there is a hill with a lagoon in it, the Tiscapa Lagoon, which has wonderful views of the city and surroundings.
Managua has its share of street crime and it is advised not to carry too much cash on you anywhere you travel in Nicaragua. Don’t be surprised or stunned to see a lot of trash around, poor children begging at traffic lights, cows in traffic, etc.
Activities
The nightlife is quite active in Managua. So go ahead and head for any of the more popular night clubs in town and check out the Nicaraguan cuisine. There are also a couple of casinos complete with round the clock gambling. You can play poker or use the gaming machines.
To really experience the city you need to visit one of the many markets. The Mercado Oriental is the largest market in Central America. In 2008 there were a few serious fires destroying parts of this market but reconstruction and renovation is under way. The Mercado Huembes is smaller but a little nicer and is not so overwhelming.
Special attractions
If you are lucky enough to be visiting during the Semana Santa (Easter Week), have fun. Most locals head to nearby beach party extravaganzas. Make sure that you take adequate precautions and don’t do anything fool hardy that you might regret at a later date. That said, the dancing is amazing and you should get some of the locals to teach you those Latin American dances. There are many other festivals and countless occasions for dancing.
If you are the kind who gets a kick from seeing geological phenomena like volcanic craters then you are in luck. Given the proximity of the city to the low lying and swampy regions which showcase eroded volcanoes craters, it is a simple task to organize an outing to the sites.
Some prehistoric footprints said to be more than 6000 years old made by 12 individuals are showcased at Huellas de Acahualinca. They were discovered in 1874 by quarry workers who found them buried under volcanic material. All footprints lead in one direction making archeologists believe that it was a migration. These are located on the southern shore of Lake Managua.
The Monumental Area
Budget cuts have ensured that all of Nicaraguan culture is easily viewed in one main museum building. The Palacio Nacional de la Cultural has the Hall of Natural History on the first floor. The second floor has the National Library and the National Archives housed together. A small art gallery on the first floor also showcases some local artisans and artists. There are also occasional events, like book and cultural fairs, in the “Plaza of the Revolution” or “Plaza de la Revolución” that is in front of the National Palace.
Rubén Darío National Theater is the place to visit if you are interested in the music, visual art and theatre of Nicaragua. Named after the famous Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío it overlooks Lake Managua. It is an important centre for the national performing arts. It is also one of the few buildings that survived the major earthquake of 1972.
The Cathedral of Santiago was built in 1929, but it needed reconstruction after the damage it faced in the 1972 earthquake. There is a new cathedral that was built (in a modern style that looks like an upside-down egg crate) to replace the older one but it is not as impressive as the shell of the old one that it replaced. The new cathedral is located next to the Metrocentro shopping mall.
