León, with about 123,000 inhabitants, is a provincial capital of Castile and León, on the Bernesga river at about 840 metres. An important stage of the Way of St James, it is a lively, welcoming university city with an extraordinary heritage.
History
The name comes from the Legio VII Gemina, the Roman legion that set up camp here in AD 74. In the 10th century it became capital of the Kingdom of León, one of the most important Christian kingdoms of the Reconquista. In 1188 King Alfonso IX convened the Cortes here, recognised by UNESCO as the oldest documentary evidence of European parliamentarism, with representatives of the towns taking part.
What to see
- The cathedral of Santa María, the Pulchra Leonina, a 13th-century French-inspired Gothic masterpiece famous for its stained glass, about 1,800 m², among the most important in Europe: inside you feel wrapped in coloured light.
- The Royal Collegiate Church of San Isidoro, with the Pantheon of the Kings, decorated with 12th-century Romanesque frescoes so beautiful it is called the "Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque", and a museum with the chalice of Doña Urraca, which some scholars claim is the Holy Grail.
- Casa Botines, a neo-Gothic building by Antoni Gaudí, now a museum, with a statue of Gaudí sitting on a bench outside.
- The Hostal de San Marcos, a former pilgrims' hospital with a superb plateresque façade, now a parador.
- The Palacio de los Guzmanes, the Plaza Mayor and the Roman and medieval walls.
- MUSAC, the contemporary art museum, with a façade of coloured glass inspired by the cathedral windows.
The Barrio Húmedo
The Barrio Húmedo and Barrio Romántico, around Plaza de San Martín, are the bar district: in León almost every drink comes with a free tapa. Specialities: cecina, cured beef, morcilla de León, botillo del Bierzo, sopa de ajo and wines from El Bierzo and Tierra de León.
Festivals
The San Juan and San Pedro festivals, in late June, and Holy Week, of international tourist interest, with the Encuentro procession. In October the San Froilán festivities are held.
Getting there
León is linked to Madrid by high-speed train in about two hours. The small airport is about 6 km away. See also Astorga.