Matagalpa has two public libraries, the Municipal, and Vicente Vita, the last one in located in the main street la calle de los Bancos this one is very comfortable, has many computers & free Internet access.There are three historical Catholic church temples, few blocks apart: the Cathedral, Molaguina and San Jose, they have nice interior architecture and you can take pictures and talk to the parisioners. Saint Peter´s Cathedral is the major building of the city, it was built by the Jesuit fathers starting in 1874, and finished in 1895.In the Bishop´s Palace Calle de lso Bancos, there is a small Chapel called "El Ateneo", there is a big 5x 10 feet famous oil painting named Sagrada Familia, it is believed to be painted by Bartolomeo Murillo, a classical Spanish painter of the year 1640`s.It showes Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, Saint Ignatius Loyola and Saint Louis Gonzaga. Pay a visit to it, if it is Murillo´s, it must be an invaluable painting, local people don´t realized its value. According to a legend, in 1881, the Jesuit fathers, before they were expulsed by the government, gave it "in deposit" to take careto the local family Baldizon, that´s the reason "El Lienzo" the canvas still is in Matagalpa, because members of that family has not allowed it to be sold or translated to other destiny.
Also be sure to visit the Castillo de Cacao (http://www.elcastillodelc...)] located just outside of the city limits, this tiny chocolate factory manufactures high quality chocolate, and if you call ahead, you can arrange a free factory tour.
Other things to see or visit: There is a Movie Theater, a Coffee Museum, a Carlos Fonseca Birth Place museum Founder of the Sandinista Front, the House of former Nicaraguan President 1970-1936 Bartolome Martinez Period 1923-24.
