Cementerio Guadalupe de León - Monument Leon - Nicaragua

To visit the final resting place of many Nicaragua dignitaries, poets, musicians, Presidents and military figures, head to Cementerio Guadalupe de León, a sprawling site of almost 25 city blocks that was constructed in 1831 (it opened in 1834). The Nicaraguan government declared Cementerio de Guadalupe a national historical and artistic site in 1983.

The cemetery holds the remains of, among others: José Zepeda, the first head of state and a brilliant military colonel; Patricio Rivas, who was provisional president of Nicaragua from October 1855 to June 1857; José Madriz Rodriguez, President of Nicaragua from 1909 to 1910 before being forced into exile in Mexico (the León native’s remains were brought to Nicaragua in 1965). You might also find the tomb of General Máximo Jerez Tellería, considered to be the father of Nicaraguan Liberalism, who died during a diplomatic mission to Washington DC. Or, you might stumble across the grave of General Carlos A. Castro Wassmer, who rivaled Anastasio Somoza García for Head of the National Guard before being murdered in prison.

The cemetery still has an old entrance and an original wall, both dating back to around the time of construction. The wall was built with niches, but most of them are empty. A small mausoleum across from the old section of the cemetery is dedicated to Don Simon Echeverría, the cemetery’s designer and master builder. Unfortunately, much of the cemetery has now fallen into ruin and is covered with weeds. If you’re searching out famous tombs, be prepared to wander – there is little to mark your way.

Location:
Leon, Nicaragua

Monument

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By Rachael Hanley
A sometime newspaper journalist with a heavy side of wanderlust, Rachael moved to Quito in November to work on the V!VA staff. She is currently...

Updated: 22 Jan 2009