Founded by the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1524, this former capital was devastated by a series of earthquakes and in the 17th Century by a catastrophic volcanic eruption. Despite this, is does have some fine examples of Spanish colonial architecture, intricately carved doorways and wrought-iron balconies.
Leon is regarded as being the intellectual core of Nicaragua and hosts a thriving population of some 700,000 people. Long rivalled by the grandeur of Granada, what Leon may lack in splendour – its cathedral might be the largest in Central America but it is white and spartan – it certainly compensates for in other areas, most particularly the Ortiz Gurdian museum.
The collection of world-class paintings and works of art is housed in the original family home which was refurbished in 2000. The old colonial house is impressive in its own right – the collection spreads across two buildings and surrounding greenery-filled courtyards – but as for the paintings and works of art….
Some powerful sixteenth and seventeenth paintings imported from Spain, the luxurious realism of the Renaissance, the spare beauty of the colonial period, romanticism, modernism, postmodernism and modern pieces by Cuban, Peruvian and other Latin American schools. Big Latin names also make an appearance – Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, Fernando Botero, Roberto Matta and more plus international names such as Picasso, Damian Hirst, David Hockney and Andy Warhol.
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This volcanic country offers an epic landscape of smoking cones, and one of John’s recommendations is to climb the young cindercone of Cerro Negro before tumbling down a vertiginous slope of light and (fairly) forgiving pumice scree.
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Once a haven for buccaneers these islands offer white-sand beaches and turquoise waters alongside a cultural experience.
Granada, or the "Gran Sultan", is one of Latin America's most beautiful colonial cities.
Several cloud forest reserves are found at higher altitudes, most notably the Reserva Natural Miraflor.
The majestic peaks of the Conception and Maderas volcanoes rise out of the horizon creating a spectacular approach for visitors.
Dubbed the Emerald Coast, Nicaragua’s Pacific coastline is vividly beautiful.
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