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León is one of the oldest colonial cities in Central América, was founded by the spanish conqueror "Don Francisco Hernández de Córdoba" in 1523, who had also founded the largest colonial city of Granada, besides Big Nicaraguan Lake.
León is situated on the León River, some 50 miles northwest of Managua, and some 11 miles north of the Pacific Ocean coast. Although less populous than Managua, León has long been the intellectual center of the nation, with the University founded here in 1813. León is also an important industrial and commercial center for Nicaragua.
The first city of León in Nicaragua was established in 1523 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba about 20 miles east of the present site; this old León was severely damaged by an eruption of the volcano Momotombo, and so the city was moved to its present location, which had been a Native American town named Subtiaba'.
 León has fine examples of Spanish Colonial architecture, including the grand Cathedral of San Pedro, built from 1706 to 1740, with two towers added in 1746 and 1779.
This city is rich in colonial architecture with old colonial buildings like:
- La Merced and Xalteva churches
- Old Spanish ammunition fortress
- San Francisco Convent (built in 1524)
- Casa de los leones (Aportal carved on stones showing two lions head)
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