León Cathedral
Catedral de la Asunción de León
Central America's largest cathedral and a World Heritage Site, with a pure white rooftop terrace where you can walk barefoot and look out over the Marrabios volcanic chain.
The Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady was built between 1747 and 1814 and blends Baroque and neoclassical styles. It is the largest church in Central America and was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2011. The poet Rubén Darío rests inside. The most popular attraction is climbing onto the rooftop, which is painted pure white. You must walk barefoot, and from here you can look over the red-tiled old town and see a chain of active volcanoes in the distance. The rooftop ticket costs about 5 US dollars. The rooftop closes for a while around midday, and the light is best in the afternoon.
Opening hours
Church approx. 08:00–18:00; rooftop approx. 08:00–12:00, 14:00–16:30
Nearby sights
- Mercado Central de León
- Museum of the Revolution
- Iglesia de La Merced
- Iglesia de la Recolección
- Museo de Leyendas y Tradiciones
- Centro de Arte Fundación Ortiz-Gurdián
- Iglesia El Calvario
- Museo Archivo Rubén Darío