One of the standout cultural highlights of any Nicaragua holiday, Leon Cathedral – or Basílica de la Asunción to give it its official name – is also the largest cathedral in Central America.
Located in the city’s historic centre, construction of Leon Cathedral began in 1747 and took over 100 years to entirely complete, much of it carried out by indigenous labourers.
Broadly speaking, the cathedral blends Baroque and Neoclassic styles with additional influences including Gothic, Renaissance & Mudejar.
However, perhaps the most interesting aspect of its construction – and not everyone is convinced by this story – is that it was commissioned, in a most un-Christian manner, by deceit.
At the time, Leon was a relatively minor settlement within Spain’s colonial empire and it would have been unlikely / surprising that such a substantial and expensive cathedral would have been approved by the powers that be.
So, according to folklore, the local authorities in Leon, submitted, false, much more modest plans for the cathedral to the Spanish authorities and then, with nobody looking (for almost 100 years?), built the Leon Cathedral that still stands today.
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Aside from being a thing of Baroque beauty, the Cathedral is also the final resting place of many of Nicaragua’s most famous and important cultural icons, foremost amongst them being locally born Ruben Dario, widely considered Nicaragua’s greatest ever poet.
While there is no questioning the historical and architectural merits of the Cathedral, for many visitors the highlight of any visit isn’t so much what is to be found within the cathedral, but rather the opportunity to explore its bright white roof and take in the views of the city.
Tickets cost around $3 and the best time to visit (but also the busiest) is in the late afternoon as the sun begins to set.
Due to its historic significance, Leon Cathedral was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011.
