The Museum of Traditions and Legends is one of the more unusual museums in Nicaragua, housed in a 20th-century prison that once held political detainees. The displays are colourful and playful — life-sized figures of characters from Nicaraguan folklore, including La Llorona (the weeping woman), El Cadejo (a supernatural dog that guards or destroys drunks depending on its colour), and El Güegüense (a trickster figure from colonial theatre).
The museum gives real texture to the mythology that underpins Nicaraguan culture. Many of these legends are still told and believed in rural communities, and understanding them helps make sense of the worldview you encounter in conversations around the country. English-speaking guides are sometimes available; the visit is better with one.