A walk through Managua's old centre near the lake, where the city's main museum, its historic theatre and the shell of the old cathedral stand close together.
The old centre today
Before 1972 the area near the lake was Managua's busy downtown. The earthquake of December that year destroyed most of it, and the city rebuilt elsewhere. What remains is an open district of plazas, gardens, monuments and a few historic buildings that survived, often called the Área Monumental. It is the best place to understand the city's past, and most of its sights are within walking distance of each other.
Palacio Nacional de la Cultura
The neoclassical Palacio Nacional de la Cultura, completed in the 1930s and one of the buildings that withstood the earthquake, now houses the National Museum. Its collections cover pre-Columbian archaeology, including ceramics and stone statues, as well as the natural history and art of Nicaragua. The building's courtyards and its grand facade are worth seeing in themselves.
The old cathedral
Across the plaza stands the old cathedral of Santiago, built in the early twentieth century and badly damaged in 1972. Its facade, with a sculpted portal and twin towers, remains a symbol of the city, and the building is preserved as a monument; visitors usually see it from outside. Managua's working cathedral today is the modern Metropolitan Cathedral further south.
The theatre and the lakefront
A few steps away, the Teatro Nacional Rubén Darío is the city's principal stage, and beyond it lies the Malecón. Further west along the shore, the Huellas de Acahualinca site museum preserves footprints from around two thousand years ago.
Planning a visit
Go in the morning, when museums are open and the sun is gentler, and finish with the lakefront in the late afternoon. Opening times and entry arrangements are set by each institution, so check them locally. Wear a hat, carry water, and take a taxi between the old centre and other districts.