Built on its current site in 1610, León remained the capital of the country until 1851. Its past splendour still spans the facades of the beautiful mansions or pavés of the streets, and the loafer discovers, enchanted, a seductive colonial city to the rich cultural, artistic and religious heritage: no fewer than churches proudly set their sights! The atmosphere, spurred by a large student contingent, is very pleasant. In short, this is an essential step in the north of the country.HistoryThe first city of León was founded by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba in 1524 (under the glorious name Santiago de los Caballeros de León), on the shores of Lake Xolotlán. Soon after, Pedraria Dávila cut Cordoba's head for treason, a fallacious argument that opened an era of unrest for the city. Some time later, the obispo Antonio Valdivieso was assassinated. There was no need for more legends and terrifying myths: The Father without Head, the horse of Arrechavala, La Llorona (La Pleureuse), La Cegua or El Punche de Oro de Sutiava began to haunt colonial streets. Today, these fables have their place in a rich cultural heritage.An earthquake in 1609 destroyed the first city, and threats of eruption of the Momotombo volcano decided the population to transfer it on its current site on 11 January 1610. The new town was divided into Creole neighbourhoods (La Españita, San Juan de Dios), native laborios (San Nicolás, San Juan, Guadalupe and Coyolar), Black and mulatto (San Felipe de Asturias), close to the neighbouring Sutiaba community. Gradually, León was going to develop and form the political and economic centre of the north of the country.On 20 January 1835, the terrible volcanic eruption of Cosigüina took Place; it is said that the ashes reached Bogotá in Colombia and Veracruz in Mexico, and that the initial eruption of the volcano was heard in Belize and Jamaica! On 13 April 1850, in another eruption, Cerro Negro was born at the foot of the sleeping volcano Las Pilas, forming one of the youngest volcanoes in the world.But León is not only a tug of war against @ forces. As we say here, "León can be slain but never overcome… Vive León, name of god! (Viva León… Jodido)», words that bear witness to the trempé nature of its inhabitants. Little by little, the city declared itself as the country's Liberal capital, opposed to Conservative Granada (in the 1850 s, the Liberals decided to resort to the North American buccaneer William Walker to overcome the claims of "Grande Sultana"). The city opened its university in 1812. The two heroes of national independence, Tomás Ruiz (indigenous father) and Miguel Larreynaga (erudite and humanist mulâtre, one of the American independence heroes that we can see today on 10 córdobas banknotes) found fertile ground for their challenge. Since then, the city has jealously preserved its title as a university city, so that in 1999 it was officially designated under this name!The Sandinista Revolution officially established a provisional government on 18 July 1979, the eve of the Managua harvest.Culture and art have their letters of nobility: mural frescoes reminiscent of the Sandinista Revolution and sending the Texas oil tankers to all the devils, museums (one dedicated to the mythical child of the Nicaraguan letters, Rubén Darío), exhibitions… Artistic and cultural excellence which is expressed in the colourful sawdust carpets made during the Holy Week in the Indigène indigenous quarter (festivities to be missed under no excuse if you are of passage, week preceding Easter).The atmosphere is a student from March to December (except during July), calmer during the summer months.Climate and environmentThe climate is dry and hot. It rains from May to October and is hot (between 27 and 32 ° C), it does not fall a drop or almost and it is even warmer during the summer of November to April (between 30 and 35 ° C).

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Cathédrale de Leon. Bilgehan YILMAZ - iStockphoto
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