LEON, a town of Central America, capital of Nicaragua, VOL. XII.
in N. Lat. 12. 25., W. Long. 86. 50.; 90 miles N.W. of Leon, Isla de Grenada, and 10 from the Pacific Ocean. The town is laid out on a regular plan, with spacious streets and squares, and occupies a large space. The houses are chiefly built of unhacked bricks, and seldom higher than one storey. Its public buildings are among the most beautiful in Central America. Pre-eminent stands the cathedral, with a lofty dome and two towers with pyramidal tops; it has the appearance of a fortress, and was at one time surmounted by thirty guns; there are on its walls marks of repeated bombardments. The bishop's palace has an elegant portico and fine gardens attached to it. Many of the churches are fine structures, the principal being those of La Merced, Recolection, and Calvario. The other most prominent buildings are the Tridentine College of St Ramon, once an important establishment, but now decayed; the government-house; and the hospital, formerly the convent of San Juan de Dios. Its suburb, Subtiaba, or Old Leon, has also some fine buildings, the chief of which is its church, consisting of three naves, with columns of cedar, and crowned by beautiful towers. Dressed leather and cutlery are the staple manufactures of Leon; its commerce is inconsiderable, and is confined to the neighbourhood. It was originally founded in 1523 on the spot now occupied by Old Leon, and was removed to its present position in 1532. The revolutions, of which the country has often been the theatre, have almost all severely visited Leon, and plenteous traces of these visitations are still to be seen. Pop. about 25,000.