León Cathedral World Heritage Site

Official name

León Cathedral | UNESCO

Country

Nicaragua | Map

Continent

North America

Location

12.4350° Lat, -86.8780° Lon | Map

Code

1236

Time Zone

America/Managua (CST, -0600)

Current Time

Category

Cultural

Description

Inscribed 2011. Built between 1747 and the early 19th century to the design of Guatemalan architect Diego José de Porres Esquivel, the monument expresses the transition from Baroque to Neoclassical architecture and its style can be considered to be eclectic. The Cathedral is characterized by the sobriety of its interior decoration and the abundance of natural light. The vault of the Sanctuary, however, presents rich ornamentation. The Cathedral houses important works of art including a wooden Flemish altarpiece, and paintings of the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross by Nicaraguan artist Antonio Sarria (late 19th and early 20th centuries).