A few blocks west of the Iglesia Santiago are the ruins of this 16th-century church destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1835. It remains a spiritual center, and as the indigenous counterpoint to La Gritería, on December 7 people gather here for a pre-Columbian festival involving torches and the sun deity on the roof of San Juan Bautista.
Las Ruinas de Veracruz
León
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
1.2 MILES
Three blocks north of the cathedral, the 1786 Iglesia de la Recolección is considered the city’s most beautiful church, a Mexican-style baroque confection…
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Reserva Natural Isla Juan Venado
9.45 MILES
This 20km-long, sandy barrier island (in some places only 300m wide) has swimming holes and lots of wildlife, including hundreds of migrating bird species…
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Museo de Arte Fundación Ortiz-Gurdián
0.85 MILES
Probably the finest museum of contemporary art in all of Central America, the Ortiz-Gurdián Collection has spilled over from its original home in Casa Don…
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13.33 MILES
Flor de Caña rum is among the world's finest and it has been produced in Chichigalpa since the distillery's founding in 1890. Visitors are initiated into…
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Museo Histórico de la Revolución
1.02 MILES
León is the heart and soul of liberal Nicaragua. Stop into this museum for an overview of the Nicaraguan revolutionaries who stood up against the Somoza…
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20.25 MILES
Anyone with even a passing interest in archaeology should stop in here, one of the finest museums in the country. The beautifully displayed collection…
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1.12 MILES
Officially known as the Basílica de la Asunción, León’s cathedral is the largest in Central America, its expansive design famously (and perhaps…
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Museo de Leyendas y Tradiciones
1.04 MILES
León’s most entertaining and eclectic museum is housed in La XXI (the 21st Garrison), decorated with murals graphically depicting methods the Guardia…
Nearby León attractions
1. Iglesia de San Juan Bautista de Sutiaba
0.1 MILES
The Subtiaba neighborhood is centered on this church, located about 1km west of the León cathedral. It’s better known as ‘Catedral Subtiaba,’ and is the…
0.11 MILES
Call ahead to make sure this intriguing museum is open. You’ve probably noticed this neighborhood’s churches are in some disrepair, a situation that…
0.18 MILES
This interesting little museum inside the Casa Cultural de Subtiaba, is a beautifully muraled building; you may need to ask that it be opened. You’re…
0.18 MILES
Look for the faded mural at the headquarters for area indigenous communities and home to Museo Adiáct.
0.19 MILES
This church, two blocks east and one block south of San Juan Bautista, was constructed between 1706 and 1718. It's considered one of the best examples of…
0.23 MILES
Well signed 1½ blocks away from San Juan Bautista, this church was (according to local legend) cursed by duendes (fairies), and by the looks of it the…
0.73 MILES
For something completely different, swing by the ultra-Gothic 1884 Iglesia Zaragoza. There's an interesting mix of architectural styles here – it looks…
8. Iglesia de San Nicolás de Laborío
0.76 MILES
Felipe III of Spain ordered this graceful church to be built in 1618. If you take the street east to the Ruinas de la Ermita de San Sebastián, you're…