Walk to the top of Tiscapa Hill to get a closer look at the towering Monumento a Sandino. The 59-feet (18-metre) high steel statue can be seen from many parts of Managua and is dedicated to Augusto Cesar Sandino, one of Nicaragua’s most famous revolutionaries.
The monument was erected in 1990 and is situated in the Parque Historico Nacional Loma de Tiscapa. This is where the former Presidential Palace stood before the 1972 earthquake and where Sandino and some of his followers were executed in 1934. The revered national hero had led a rebellion against the occupation of Nicaragua by the United States.
Note how the statue’s sculptor has added little detail beyond the hatted silhouetted figure of the freedom fighter. Learn more about Sandino by reading the plaques at the foot of the monument. While you are here, look at the ruins of the palace and see a tank that was a present from Benito Mussolini to Anastasio Somoza, a former Nicaraguan dictator.
The Monumento a Sandino sits on one of the highest points of Managua, a volcanic hill above Tiscapa Lagoon. From here, enjoy lofty views of the lake and the city. See if you can pinpoint Managua’s two cathedrals.
On your way back down, stop by the Roosevelt Monument at the base of the hill. Originally designed as a tribute to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, it is now dedicated to martyrs of the Nicaraguan Revolution.
Explore the walking trails that form part of the nature reserve around the lagoon. Adrenaline junkies will want to take a canopy ride over the lagoon.
The Monumento a Sandino is situated on the outskirts of Managua, about 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometres) south of the old Managua Cathedral (Catedral de Santiago), which is in the historic centre. The national historic park is free to enter and if you don’t fancy the 15-minute walk to the top of a hill, take a taxi.
