Managua is a city without a real center. Most of its downtown was destroyed in the 1972 earthquake, and much of the area has been left vacant, is still covered with ruins, or has been converted into parks. Rebuilding has occurred on the outskirts of the city, especially to the south.
A few buildings survived in the former city center, near the shore of Lake Managua. These include the National Palace, where the congress meets; the Fine Arts Palace, a theater where major cultural events are held; and the Government House, where the presidential offices are located. The ruins of the old cathedral still stand, but a new cathedral has been built a few miles from downtown. The dominant land feature for miles around is La Loma, a small hill near the lakeshore with a volcanic lagoon behind it. The Intercontinental Hotel and a monument to United States president Franklin Roosevelt are at the base of La Loma, and the ruins of the former Presidential Palace are on its crest. The only major new construction in the area is the Olaf Palme International Conference Center, built in the 1980s. On the lake's shore, a theater and statue commemorate one of Nicaragua's most famous writers, poet Rubén Darío.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Managua Information info
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