Walking tour of Leon
Discover the fascinating history of Nicaragua’s former capital, a city of red-tiled roofs, narrow cobbled streets and crumbling colonial architecture.
The only Nicaraguan city to compare with the colonial masterpiece of Granada, León is a rival to its neighbour in more ways than one. Where Granada is ardently conservative, León has always been equally fierce in its liberalism, and these two cities with divergent histories make for a fascinating contrast.
The capital was moved from León to Managua in the 19th century, but this elegant city steeped in culture and arts is still considered by many to be the country’s intellectual capital.
A guided walking tour will reveal the tempestuous history of this architectural treasure trove of colonial façades, narrow streets and pretty squares, dominated by a number of grandiose churches, many connected by secret tunnels. The imposing cathedral is the largest in the Americas, and took over a century to build. The city has a history of alliance to revolutionary causes and you’ll see the vestiges of murals painted by the Sandinistas in their revolt against the Somoza regime in the 1970s.
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Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
