Ruins of León Viejo
Ruinas de León Viejo
The ruins of a Spanish colonial city founded in 1524, abandoned after earthquakes and the Momotombo volcano. One of the earliest colonial town ruins in the Americas and a World Heritage Site.
León Viejo was founded by the Spanish in 1524 on the shore of Lake Managua as the original city of León. It was abandoned after earthquakes and volcanic activity in 1610, and its residents moved to present-day León. The site preserves the foundations of the cathedral, a monastery and the governor's palace, without later rebuilding. It is one of the earliest colonial city ruins in the Americas and was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2000. From the site you can see the Momotombo volcano and the lake. It is about 30 km from León. Admission is about US$5, and it is often combined with a volcano tour.
Opening hours
About 08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Momotombo
- El Hoyo Volcano
- Cerro Negro
- Hervideros de San Jacinto
- Iglesia El Calvario
- Mercado Central de León
- Iglesia de la Recolección
- León Cathedral