Hi all! I�ve decided to start a new thread to recommend a visit to a very cute and peaceful town in Northern Spain: Le�n . Those of you who like history (especially, medieval history) will have in the old capital of a kingdom which payed an essential role in the Reconquista and in setting the foundations for the present Spanish country (and even Portugal) a great delightful time. It's just 3 and 1/2 hrs from Madrid and has a 5 star Parador which many experts consider the best in Spain: San Marcos, a former luxurious convent built at some time in the Renaissance The most representative and exquisite monument is the Cathedral, traditianlly called "Pulchra Leonina" because of its pure gothic style and its aesthetic beauty (both inside -the best stained glass windows in Spain- and outside -oneyric stone needles that point heaven). Another very important building is the Real Colegiata de San Isidoro, a very old abbey which keeps the remains of San Isidoro de Sevilla, and the Royal burial site of medieval kings of the kingdom of Le�n: Pante�n de los Reyes. The old stone tombs were placed beneath beautiful romanesque vaults which present impressive paintings (The Sixtine Chapel of Romanesque painting art, experts say) Apart from this, many palaces from noble families can be seen in the old town (remarking The Palacio de los Guzmanes as the most oustanding one) and a neo-gothing 19th century palace designed by Gaud�: Casa de Botines. Some interesting links: www.leon-antiguo.com www.aytoleon.com --> This one has a web cam in the Cathedral square connected to it. Those of you who still don�t know the city: What are you waiting for?
Cuiusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare
Yeah, I second that! I went to Leon a couple of years ago and it ws really nice. its small, but very rich in history, and yes the cathedral is amazing. When I went, their plaza mayor was under construction, but it looked cute.
je je je. Some vandals do blacken the castle, but, you know, this kind of people always need an excuse to complain and vindicate. The Lion and the castle have been together in the shield of arms of the kingdom of Castille and Le�n for centuries!! This does not mean, on the other hand, that those places which are and have always been a part of Le�n are now a part of Castille. There's a serious confusion about it, even among Spanish people. Le�n and Castille are together but it doesn�t mean that Le�n as a cultural collective personalty has ceased to exist to become Castille. Lets leave things clear I�m glad to see that my home land is known and appreciated (I�m gonna cry for the emotion :cry: ) :jeje:
Cuiusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare
Our family also really likes the city of Le�n! On our honeymoon we stayed at the San Marcos. It was an indescribable place. Two years ago we went back (this time with our two daughters) and it was just as beautiful. Now our daughters love Le�n as well. As a matter of fact, this summer as we were planning our trip in Spain, they are the ones who wanted to return to Le�n. This time it was just passing through, so we did not stop at the San Marcos , but we went all around the cathedral area and went back for tapas at El Flechazo on the corner of C/ Escabrilla y Plater�as...for delcicious patatas that we had remembered. Le�n is a beautiful little city and definitely worth getting to know. BTW: the Plaza Mayor is not en obras anymore...and it is a very fun area to explore.
Posts: 146 | Location: New York City | Registered: 29 June 2001
Thanx so much Laidback..!!! :cheers: Now, please tell me how the **** you did it. It�s frustrarting for a principiante como yo. I know el Flechazo Marcela. Patatas there are great! Have u gone to La Botica? It's in C/ Misericordia, at the corner with C/ Casta�ones. To see the map: www.leon-antiguo.com/plano.php (hope this one works this time ) Ypu can have sopas de trucha for tapas there (I definitely recommend them) and also morcilla. El LLar in Plaza de San Mart�n has also great raciones of tradicional food from Le�n.; and El Rebote, in the same square gives great croquetas for tapas. You should try them if u ever go back! The plaza Mayor looks really cute now (after some years under construction), and it's worth taking some pics there. The Barrio H�medo in general is the most traditional part of the old city, full of legends, history and charming sites, and the best place to enjoy the leonese cuisine. As regards San Marcos, What can I say about such wonder... It�s like staying at an old Palace!! A great place for your honey moon, indeed!
Cuiusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare
Nice piece of work, I agree with all that you said, and thought I might share with you just a few of my Links, as I feel that they are in tune with what's in this section, and others will find them, and they too will learn a few things more about the former Great Kingdom of LEON, as it was before it joined forces with the Kingdom of Castilia. You know, there is so much stuff on here to be found, I mean on the Internet, about every place in Espa�a that you can put a name to, it's there, just waiting to be read by millions of people. I have found stuff on for example Toledo, Avila, Salamanca, Segovia, etc, and most of it can be found in English as well, and some of those websites have the facilty built into them for the user to select their Language, usualy Castellano and English, but often French, and sometimes even Catalan.
Well, that's all really, I hope these links are useful to someone somewhere.
Cool thread! I spent a semester in Le�n back in 1995 and have been back once since then, in 1997. I was amazed at the improvements that were made in those 2 years. For example, the pedestrian area around the Cathedral was just regular streets back when I was going to school there. Plus the Gaud� building was all in scaffolding at the time. I really loved the city, and need to get back there sometime soon.
Anne
Remember, you can't see everything in one trip. Assume you will return. (Rick Steves)
Posts: 143 | Location: Green Bay, WI USA | Registered: 16 April 2002
I've been away from the boards for a while and never even saw that thread. But, at the risk of cross-contaminating threads, I do think Rick Steves is a god and I'm sticking to it. He he he. (Sorry Paul )
Remember, you can't see everything in one trip. Assume you will return. (Rick Steves)
Posts: 143 | Location: Green Bay, WI USA | Registered: 16 April 2002
But please don�t blacken the castle on the regional flag,
, but we went all around the cathedral area and went back for tapas at El Flechazo on the corner of C/ Escabrilla y Plater�as...for delcicious patatas that we had remembered. Le�n is a beautiful little city and definitely worth getting to know. BTW: the Plaza Mayor is not en obras anymore...and it is a very fun area to explore. 
