Leon Viejo

About

Leon Viejo was founded by the conquistador Francisco Hernández de Córdoba in 1524. Francisco’s influence in the Americas was short lived - he was decapitated by the town’s mayor, Pedrarias Davila, here in 1526, and both their bodies were found in a cellar. Earthquakes and eruptions from the nearby Momotombo volcano caused inhabitants to abandon the city in 1610. Because of its rapid desertion, the ruins of the city preserve the very first stages of the colonization of the New World. There are plenty of informative signs posted to give context to the foundations of houses and other buildings, and some of the most important structures, such as the church have been partially restored. With the Momotombo volcano looming in the distance, the lost city is often compared to Pompeii, though it was never actually destroyed by an eruption.