Leon is a colonial city, which is reflected in its city-plan and architecture. The streets are arranged in a grid, with only the churches higher than two stories. There are at least ten large colonial churches, of which La Catedral, La Recoleccion, and El Calvario are the most impressive.
Leon is also a university city, providing for a young, dynamic demographic. The city seems more modernized as a result, with a very good number of internet cafes. I have also occasionally heard cars driving by blasting North American music.
There are also many museums in Leon, reflecting the rich cultural/historical tradition here. Finally, I feel perfectly safe in walking the streets, during the day and even at night.
All of these characteristics are in direct opposition to Managua, the capital. Furthermore, there is a visible level of middle-, and even upper-class here, whereas Managua exhibits only low-class for the most part. Leon seems clean and orderly, whereas Managua has a sense of lawlessness and disorder. All in all, I enjoy being in Leon. I don't have any inclination to return to Managua, unless it is simply to pass through or change buses.
As a final point, Leon also has a noticeable (but not too large) ex-patriate and backpack-traveller community. This is reassuring and even somewhat comforting. Besides contact and conversations with Nicas (and other Latin Americans), it is also interesting to converse with other "First World" explorers.
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