Leon information:
General information
León preserves an interesting Romanesque,
Gothic and Renaissance legacy, the result of its splendour during
the Middle Ages. The Plaza Mayor forms the centre of this city,
crossed by the river Bernesga. Among this baroque collection of
buildings stands the City Hall, popularly known as the "Balcón
de la Ciudad" (Balcony of the City), since from its galleries
the nobles observed the town's activities taking place.
Next to the City Hall is the neighbourhood of San Martín,
built around the square and the church of the same name. In this
area, there are small palaces and large houses such as the Casa
de las Carnicerías and the Palace of Count Luna. The palace has
a 14th-century Gothic façade with Arab influences and a large
dressed tower. Also worth a visit is the church of San Salvador
de Palat del Rey, dating from the 10th century and the oldest
in the city.
Around these streets there are bars and restaurants where we can
sample the best of the region's gastronomy and which have made
it worthy of the nickname "El Húmedo". We can
continue our route on to the Palace of los Guzmanes and the Casa
de los Botines. The main façade of the palace, site of
the County Council, dates back to the 16th century and featuring
prominently on the building are the lattice balconies and the
lateral façade. The Casa de los Botines, meanwhile, is
the work of the architect Antonio Gaudí, who launched the modernist
style in the city. León has more examples of this artistic
trend in the square of Santo Domingo.
From here, we can enter the area surrounded by the Roman walls,
with the city's two jewels located at either end: the Cathedral
and Basilica of San Isidro. The "Pulcra Leonina", one
of the most striking Gothic temples in Spain, stands on the site
of an old Roman baths and a Romanesque church. Approaching it
face on offers us, on its main front, a view of one of the most
significant series of Gothic sculptures, a richly-coloured rose
window and two towers, curiously free-standing from the main façade.
But perhaps what most captures the visitor's attention are the
1,800 square metres of stained-glass windows. Once inside, stopping
by at the choir, the Romanesque tombs in the transept and the
chapels of the ambulatory is a must. A visit to the Cathedral
Museum, one of the most complete of its kind, takes us to see
the cloister and a plateresque stairway, as well as major paintings
and sculptures.
One of the most significant sites in the whole of Europe is the
Basilica de San Isidoro. Its thick walls jealously guard what
is known as the "Sistine Chapel" of the Spanish Romenesque
style. It has a series of frescoes from the 12th century which
decorate the underground crypt of the Royal Pantheon. We can find
scenes from the Old and New Testament, floral motifs and a calendar
of agricultural tasks. They still preserve their original colour.
But the exceptional condition and quality of the paintings must
not distract us from viewing the architectural features. The sculptures
on the main fronts are a true Bible in images. Its prestigious
collection of medieval art is enriched by the San Isidro Chest,
the Ivory Chest or the Chalice of Doña Urruca.
Walking around the city, you can discover churches of all ages
and styles. In San Marcelo there is a reredos created in part
by Gregorio Fernández, one of the most significant sculptors
of the Spanish baroque style. Meanwhile, a church which recalls
the splendour of the Pilgrim's Road to Santiago de Compostela
(Camino de Santiago) as it passed through León is the Virgen
del Camino (the Virgin of the Way), highly venerated in the city.
Oficina de Turismo: Plaza de Regla, 3
24003 León (León)
Tel. +34 987237082
Source: Web server of Instituto de Turismo de España, TURESPAÑA.