Sightseeing in Leon - what to see. Complete travel guide

Leon is a town on north-east of Spain. It is situated on the bank of the Bernesga River right at the foot of the Cordillera Cantábrica. The population of this city estimated 122.7 thousands of people in 2004.

Leon is an important transport crossing with well-developed mining, leather making, chemical, food, and pharmaceutical industries and machine building.

The old city is partially surrounded by a wall that has been built by Romans. San Isidoro basilica is one of the most notable sights of the Roman epoch. The basilica was built in 1055; its western part is the location of the “Pantheon of Kings”, which roof and walls feature unique drawings.

Santa Maria de Regla Cathedral is a beautiful example of early gothic architecture style. The church, which has been built by the French masters, is often called the best gothic building of Spain. The façade of the building is decorated with two towers and three portals that are crowned by sculptures and rose windows. The inner decoration of the cathedral is no less interesting as you will find there amazing gothic frescos made by Nicolas Frances. The windows in the cathedral are almost fully decorated by stained glass. This cathedral has no equivalents in Spain. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

San Marcos Monastery is a former shelter for pilgrims in Santiago de Compostella. The monastery was founded in XII century. Its façade is made in the plateresco style.

Among other notable architectural sights of the city are Casa de los Botines and Casa de los Gusmanes palaces.

Approximately 30 kilometers away from Leon is located a beautiful church San Miguel de Escalada. It was built by the Mozarabs.

Tourists are also offered to visit the museum of Can Isidoro basilica that exhibits the masterpieces of church art of XI-XII centuries, Eparchial Museum, Provincial Museum, Museum of Natural History and Art salon.

While walking around the city you can see a lot of beautiful palaces and mansions. One of the most notable is the Guzmanes Palace. Once, this gorgeous palace belonged to the family of Guzmanes, who was one of the wealthiest and most notable in the region. Built in 1560, today this palace is considered one of the most beautiful monuments in the Renaissance style. Since 1882, the building has belonged to the government of Leon, and in 1963, it was recognized as a historical monument of national importance.

Fans of contemporary art will be interested to visit the MUSAC Museum. It also occupies a very notable building, the facade of which is decorated with colorful glass panels. The opening of this museum took place in 2005. The basis of its exposition is works of art that were created at the turn of the 20th - 21st centuries. Here you can see not only pictures of famous contemporary artists, but also beautiful sculptures, collections of photographs, as well as works of famous designers. The museum often holds exhibitions and other interesting cultural events.

Among the famous city sights the Museum Gaudi Casa Botines is of special interest. It was built in the late 19th century and is a unique architectural masterpiece in the style peculiar to Antoni Gaudi. Known for its non-standard projects, Gaudi began work on this building in 1891. A large beautiful house was built for wealthy merchants of Leon, among who was a good friend of the world famous architect. Currently, experts find it difficult to accurately determine the style of the original building. It resembles a classic medieval building, complemented by elements in the Art Nouveau style.

Fans of hiking in Leon will be interested in visiting the Humedo Quarter, which is located in the historic part of the city. Here at every step, you can see beautiful historic houses on the first floors of which are popular restaurants, bars, stores and souvenir shops. For those who want to enjoy the most popular snacks tapas, it is worth going to this area. In the territory of this historic quarter, several medieval buildings have survived. A walk through the streets can turn into an exciting excursion. Simultaneously with visiting unique sights, you can choose interesting souvenirs and handicrafts.