León is a Spanish city with a lot of history. The Romans arrived in AD68 - the 7th Legion set up camp on a hill where the Cathedral now stands. Later, the Visigoths arrived who in turn were replaced by the Moors. Control of the city fluctuated between Moors and Christians and, in the 10th century, it became the capital of the kingdom of Asturias and Leon when García I transferred his court there from Oviedo. However, it was not until the 11th century that the city was fully under Christian control. Today, there are many fine buildings that reflect León's importance amongst the Christian cities in Spain.
Its most famous monument is the Catedral de Santa María de Regla. It is an impressive building made even more outstanding by its stained-glass windows known as the Pulchra Leonina.
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| León Cathedral - photo Derek Emson |
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| León Cathedral - photo public domain |
A few streets away is a real treasure - the Colegiata de San Isidoro. The 11th century church not only houses the Royal Pantheon, the burial place of some of medieval León's royal family, but also contains one of the best collections of Romanesque paintings in the World - a series of frescoes from the 12th century which decorate the underground crypt.
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| León Royal Pantheon - photo public domain |
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| León Casa Botines - photo public domain |
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