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Parque Rubén Darío
This quaint park has a statue of the poet master and busts of other, lesser Leónese poets, including Alfonso Cortés (1893–1969), Azarias H Pallais (1884–1954) and Salomon de la Selva (1893–1959). They are accompanied by a few choice verses.
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Parroquia El Calvario
Parroquia El Calvario is a squat colonial structure with no spire, most remarkable for the extra-gory statues of Jesus and the thieves being crucified, right at the entrance. Those are original - the rest had to be remodeled after the earthquake of 2000.
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Plaza de la Independencia
Head north of Parque Central to Plaza de la Independencia, also known as the Plaza de los Leones. The obelisk is dedicated to the heroes of the 1821 struggle for independence, while the Cruz de Siglo was erected in 1900 to mark the new century.
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Convent San Francisco
Founded in 1639, Convent San Francisco was badly damaged during the 1979 Battle for León. Most of the church, which still has two of the original altars, is being renovated, but you can check out what used to be the convent at Hotel El Convento.
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Museo de Historia y Arqueología
In a large concrete faux indigenous pyramid on the north side of town, Estelís museum has a small but interesting collection of pottery and petroglyphs from local pre-Hispanic cultures, fossils of extinct megafauna and items from the revolution.
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Agua Termales Porvenir
Located in the community of Porvenir near the border with Honduras, these natural thermal baths are populated by a colony of turtles. The mineral-rich water is lukewarm at best but is said to cure all kinds of ailments and its a pleasant place for a swim.
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National Assembly Pedestrian Walk
East of the National Assembly along Avenida Central is a pedestrian walk with open-air exhibits on Nicaraguas history, featuring everything from historic photos of Sandino to evocative pictures of pre-Earthquake Managua. It is sometimes closed to the public.
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Museo Precolombino de Chagüitillo
This worthwhile museum has lots of Chorotegan pottery, and an exhibit on local hero Domingo Sánchez Salgado, aka ‘Chagüitillo,’ one of the leaders of the early resistance against the Somozas. Museum staff arrange guides (US$4) to visit the petroglyph sites.
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Mercado Municipal
Head to the overflowing and fun (if not particularly good for souvenir shopping) Mercado Municipal, a neoclassical building constructed in1892 that may be beautiful, though theres really no way of knowing until somebody gets up there and scrubs down the facade.
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Iglesia Catedral San Pedro
Built in 1874, Matagalpas glorious whitewashed neoclassical cathedral is flooded with light. Inside the sanctuary are a natural wood altar, gorgeous domes, arches and crown moldings. It fronts Parque Morazán, a reasonably shady hangout with outstanding people-watching.
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Iglesia San José
Originally constructed in 1751 and used as a jail for indigenous rebels in the late 1800s, this church was rebuilt in 1917 by Franciscan friars. She shows her age, but her baroque gold-leaf altar and arched ceilings are lovely, and she fronts leafy Parque Rubén Darío.
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Cruz de España
Ask your taxi driver to point out this monument, suspended from a gleaming half-arch above the traffic, which marks the spot where conquistador Gil González Dávila and Cacique Nicarao first met on October 12, 1523. Brightly colored statues of both men flank the monument.
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Ermita de San Pedro
This church, two blocks east and one block south of San Juan Bautista, was constructed between 1706 and 1718, and is considered one of the best examples of primitive baroque style in Nicaragua. This means that it’s almost unadorned, save for three brick crosses inlaid into the adob
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Foreigners Cemetery
If you ‘dig’ graveyards, check out both the Foreigners Cemetery (and nearby National Cemetery) on the eastern edge of town, where youll find great views and the headstone of Benjamin Linder, an American hydroelectric engineer and unicycle clown who was killed by Contra forces.
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Nicaragua Butterfly Reserve
About 4km from Granada on the dirt road that leads from the cemetery to Laguna de Apoyo, this mariposario (butterfly farm) offers interesting tours. It’s about a 45-minute walk – take Calle de las Comedias where it branches off to the right of the cemetery at the western edge of to
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Museo Entomológico
For a truly comprehensive collection of creepy crawlies, butterflies, scorpions and other critters from all over Central America, drop into this museum. The specialty is Lucanidae, a genus of beetles where males usually display ferocious-looking pincers. Anyone for a mosquito net?
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Cebollal
The first settlement to cater to tourists, and it remains the most popular. You can stay with families or in more comfortable cabañas (cabin) and enjoy miles of trails that reach up to 1400m with pockets of cloud forest that draw colorful quetzals to their canopy in May and June.
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Iglesia de San Francisco
The 1639 Iglesia de San Francisco is one of the oldest in the city, a national heritage site with lots of gold, a gorgeous nave, and rather rococo interior. It was abandoned between 1830 and 1881, then refurbished with two elaborate altarpieces for San Antonio and Our Lady of Mercy
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Pozo el Salto
This absolutely stunning, partially dammed swimming hole, 4km north of town on the road to Managua, is framed in cascades of water and has been popular with picnickers for generations; unfortunately its often polluted so ask around before diving in. It’s a US$2 taxi or US$0.30 bus
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Centro Turístico
This tourist center has restaurants, discos, sandy beaches, kids play areas, picnic spots, and is the place to go to hire a launch or kayak for a Las Isletas excursion (hire boats at Cabinas Amarillas, 3km south from the parks entrance gate, or through Inuit Kayak). Use cabs here a
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