{"id":5249,"date":"2026-02-25T12:02:53","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T11:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eveha-international.com\/?page_id=5249"},"modified":"2026-02-25T12:04:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T11:04:13","slug":"leon-viejo","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/eveha-international.com\/?page_id=5249&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Leon Viejo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u2018Leon Viejo through Time and Space\u2019 project is directed by Rigoberto Navarro Genie (\u00c9veha Nicaragua) and co-directed by S\u00e9bastien Perrot-Minnot (\u00c9veha International). The project is financed by the Nicaraguan Cultural Institute (INC) and, in part, by the Embassy of Luxembourg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Direction
Dr. Rigoberto Navarro-Genie<\/strong> (\u00c9veha Nicaragua)
Dr. S\u00e9bastien Perrot-Minnot<\/strong> (\u00c9veha International)<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How Eveha International Participates
<\/strong>Archaeological investigations
direction Artefacts studies
Geomorphology<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Localisation<\/strong>
Nicaragua<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Location and historical overview<\/strong>
Leon Viejo archaeological site is located in the western part of Nicaragua, close to the village of Puerto Momotombo. It borders the Mangua lake (or Xolotlan), at the foot of the Momotombo volcano. The Spanish founded there one of the first cities on the American continent. Established in 1524, under the name of Leon de Nagrando, it became three years later the capital of the colonial province of Nicaragua. It reached its peak in 1540, before decreasing until it was completly abandoned in 1610 after a series of disasters caused by men and the elements. The city was then transfered to the current location of Leon city.

Historical background and research axis<\/strong>
The rediscovery of the Leon Viejo site in 1967 motivated campaigns of clearance, excavation and restoration. Several remarkable monuments were found on this occasion, including the old cathedral of Santa Mar\u00eda de la Gracia and the La Merced convent. The site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2000 as \u201cits ruins are outstanding testimony to the social and economic structures of the Spanish Empire in the 16th century\u201d (whc.unesco.org\/fr\/list\/613).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Partners<\/strong>
Ambassade du Grand Duch\u00e9 du Luxembourg
au Nicaragua
Institut Nicaraguayen de la Culture (INC)
Institut Nicaraguayen de Tourisme (INTUR)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The excavation campaigns (by year)<\/h2>\n\n\n