León Cathedral, Roman Catholic cathedral in León, Nicaragua
León Cathedral is a white stone basilica in León, Nicaragua, with a rectangular plan of five naves and nine vaulted bays. Its neoclassical facade, raised on a terrace, has two 40-metre towers with rounded cupolas, a central arched pediment crowned by a statue of the Virgin, and statues of the Twelve Apostles beside the columns of the central nave. The crossing is topped by a decorated dome about 35 metres high.
Construction ran from 1747 to 1860, when Bishop Bernardo Piñol y Aycinena consecrated the cathedral and Pope Pius IX raised it to minor basilica on 20 November. The design is attributed to Guatemalan architect Diego José de Porres y Esquivel. In 1824 cannons were placed on its roof during the conservative siege of the city, and in 1979 FSLN guerrillas used it for military purposes.
The cathedral houses the tombs of important Nicaraguan figures, including poet Rubén Darío, whose graves are marked with sculptures and memorial plaques. Visitors come to pay respects to these central figures in the nation's cultural history.
The cathedral is open to visitors daily with access to both the interior and the rooftop areas. Visitors with time to spare can explore both sections to fully experience the architecture and views.
Above ground the cathedral carries 34 domes, which ventilate the interior and light it; the sources call it one of the best naturally illuminated cathedrals in America. Seven cellars sit beneath the church, and one of them leads to tunnels running to the city's other churches.
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