Founded by Dona Carmen Toruno, who created many of the exhibits, the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Traditions</st1:placename></st1:place> and Legends celebrates the region’s favorite folk tales and heroes?with paper-mache figures. The museum has five rooms, four of which are filled with fables such as La Carreta Nagua, Las Ceguas, La Chancha Bruja, La Llorona and La Gigantona (the famous dancing giant). Small placards explain the legends in Spanish; you can usually get the bored curator to walk you through the rooms, if you ask. The building was once the infamous XXI prison and, painted in the final room and on the front of the museum, there are images of men undergoing the types of tortures the National Guard once inflicted. The exhibitions themselves aren't very impressive – imagine a very extensive high school project – but the prison’s bullet-scarred walls hold a lot of history. There are also some interesting political and historical murals painted on the outside.

Location:
Calle 4a South, across from the church of San Sebastien
Leon, Nicaragua

Museum Types:
History

Price Description:

10 C

Relative price: Budget

Open Hours from:8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Open Hours to:2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Days Closed:Monday, half-day Sunday

Contact Information:
Phone: 505-912-7246

By Mike Karanicolas

Michael Karanicolas is a writer, traveler, photographer, and roving buccaneer. His legendary exploits include running with the bulls in Pamplona,...

Created: 14 Jun 2008

Updated: 12 Oct 2009