Leon: A Sightseer's Guide

Based on the video Top 10 Que Ver in La Coruna by Pasaporte Viajero

1. Plaza de Mayor
2. Catedral de Leon
3. Calle Ancha
4. Marcos Bakery - typical pastries of the region
5. Casa Botines - Gaudi
6. Restaurante Castrillo - three course meal "Cocido"
7. Basilica de San Isidoro
8. MUSAC Museum - Museum of Contemporary Art
9. Palacio de los Guzmanes
10. Pasteleria Flor de Lis
11. Convento de San Marcos
12. Centro de Interpretacion Romano
13. Muralla de Leon

Plaza de Mayor

Historic main square in the heart of old town León. One of the oldest main squares in Spain, taking shape between 1654 and 1677. with beautiful arches, a vibrant outdoor market offering fresh vegetables, cured meats, and cheeses, and many cafes to enjoy local tapas.

Catedral de Leon

Santa María de Regla de León Cathedral, consecrated under the name of the Virgin Mary, was initiated in the 13th century. It is one of the greatest works of the Gothic style, with French influences. Also known as the Pulchra Leonina, which means ‘Beautiful Leonese’. The Cathedral takes the “dematerialization” of gothic art to the extreme, that is, the reduction of the walls to their minimum expression to be replaced by stained glass, constituting one of the largest collections of medieval stained glass in the world.

Calle Ancha

Calle Ancha, the main pedestrian street in the historic center, follows the old path of the Roman City, and connects the Cathedral to Plaza de Santo Domingo and Ordoño II. It is filled with shops, cafes, and beautiful old buildings.

Marcos Bakery

Marcos (or Casa Marcos) is a beloved shop famous for traditional pastries and local gourmet products, such as artisanal pastas, "pastas de té" (teacups cookies), and mantecados (a type of shortbread cookie with pork lard).

Casa Botines

Gaudí's tribute to León's emblematic buildings, he designed a building with a medieval air and numerous neo-Gothic characteristics. The inclined roof and corner towers emphasize the neo-Gothic feel. He included a moat around two of the façades, a strategy that he would repeat at the Sagrada Família in Barcelona.

Restaurante Castrillo

Enjoy true Maragato stew in the heart of the main square, while sipping traditional Maragato tapas.

Basilica de San Isidoro

Located on the site of an ancient Roman temple, its Christian roots trace to the early 10th century , and in 1063, rededicated to Saint Isidore of Seville, who was the most celebrated academic and theologian of Visigothic Spain, prior to the Arab invasions. An equestrian statue of Saint Isidore dressed as a Moor-slayer is visible, along with many other sculptures, high on the facade.

MUSAC Museum

The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León is a contemporary art museum, and aims to be a "Museum of the Present", collecting only artworks from the latest generation of artists. The museum has won international prestige for its 21st-century collection and innovative programming.

Palacio de los Guzmanes

The majestic 16th-century Renaissance palace is located in the heart of the city, adjacent to Antoni Gaudí's famous Casa Botines. Today, it functions as the headquarters for the Provincial Council of León, seamlessly blending regional administrative operations with public cultural tourism.

Pasteleria Flor de Lis

A traditional shop, featuring homemade empanadas, and a wide variety of pastries with and without sugar and typical local sweets. The house specialty is alfajores with dulce de leche.

Convento de San Marcos

One of the most important monuments of the Spanish Renaissance. Its façade is a jewel of Plateresque architecture. The first section features semicircular windows and Plateresque pilasters, while the second has balconies and columns with balustrades. The base displays medallions with Greco-Roman figures and figures from Spanish history. 

Centro de Interpretacion Romano

The permanent exhibition comprises several thematic sections:
THE ROMAN ARMY : covers the important role played by the army in the history of ancient Rome.
HISPANIAS PACAVI : The newly conquered Cantabrians and Asturians would gradually assimilate the Roman way of life.
THE ROMAN LEON : continuous archaeological research bring new thoughts on the ancient city.
THE SIXTH VICTORIOUS LEGION and THE LEGIO VII GEMINA : a review of the main milestones that marked the history of the two legions based in the Leonese land.
CONTUBERNIUM : recreation of a camp to house the Roman legionaries.

Muralla de Leon

The wall of León, dating back to the 1st century, is the Roman fortification that delimits the old town of the city.

The walls were originally built by the Legio VI to control the Asturian population of the area and rebuilt in stone by the Legio VII in 74 AD.