El Fortín

The National Guard's last holdout in León, El Fortín can be reached by the 2.5km dirt road that begins on the west side of Guadalupe cemetery, on the southern border of Barrio Subtiava. The large, squat gray building was originally constructed in 1889 to take advantage of great city views. It was abandoned until the 1950s, when the Somozas realized that they needed to keep an eye on León itself. They lost the fort on July 7, 1979, and the Sandinistas still have a parade every July to celebrate.

The fortress is next to a smelly garbage dump; you'll need to ask for permission to enter. Muggings are common on this stretch, so go in a group and leave your camera and other valuables at the hotel.