A Brief History

During the pre-Columbian age, Masaya Volcano was an object of veneration by the indigenous people. They believed the eruptions were signs of anger from the gods and to appease them  they offered sacrifices, which often included small children and maidens. Later, during the Conquest, the Spaniards baptized the active volcano "La Boca de Inferno" or "The Mouth of Hell". They then planted a cross "La Cruz de Bobadilla" (named in honor of the Father Francisco Bobadilla). It was placed on the crater lip in the 16th century in order to exorcise the Devil. The volcano was visited by a number of Spaniards in search of "the gold of the volcano". Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo in 1529 and Friar Blas del Castillo in 1538 were among the unsuccessful excavators. In 1670, the Nindri Volcano made its last eruption followed by the Masaya Volcano in 1772. The lava formed by this later eruption advanced like a river of fire to the area now known as Piedra Quemada or burnt rock. In 1852, a new crater, Santiago was formed between the two existing volcanoes.