Regions of Spain : Castilla y Leon

Castilla y Leon came together in 1983, when the regions of Castilla la Vieja and Leon were united. Both have been central areas of Spanish medieval history, and the importance during that epoch is still evident in many cathedrals, monasteries, castles and fortificated towns, many of which are preserved in perfect state. Apart of its great monumental patrimony, Castilla y Leon offers as well natural parks and kilometers of practically virginal nature, with woods of oaks and cork-oaks.

Gastronomy is distinguished by excellent meat, in particular of lamb, and vegetables like the famous creamy beans of Avila. Artisany and popular celebrations show a rich and varied folklore, often of archaic roots and almost unknown to a wider public.

The Cities:

Salamanca

An ancient city famous for its university founded in the 1200's. Located north west of Madrid and just 117km from Portugal. Voted one of the World Heritage Cities by UNESCO, one of 6 in Spain. The university has much influence on Salamanca and brings it a great deal of life.

The only way to see the city is by foot and a good place to start is the Plaza Mayor, in the centre, voted the best public Plaza in Spain. Note the splendid City Hall with its clock tower. You will also find a helpful tourist office in this square. From here you will be able to walk through the arcade of shops, picking up the latest fashions and hand-made goods. You will be in easy reach of the Old Cathedral where you can see the Gothic tombs of past Bishops. The New Cathedral is located in Plaza Juan XXII and dates from 1513.

The New Cathedral was constructed to accommodate the huge number of students attending the university and it took 200 years to build. The city also has a wealth of important churches, some of which date back to the 11 and 1200's. In the Plaza de San Esteban stands the Monastery of San Esteban. Construction started in 1525 by order of the Bishop of Cordoba. It was completed by 1618. The front of the church shows some fine sculptures and the interior houses several impressive murals. Within the structure there is a lovely green courtyard. Salamanca has five Convents, all are worthy of a visit.

Within the city you will see numerous palaces and important houses. Look out for the Casa de las Conchas, House of Shells (left). This unusual building was built at the start of the 16th century. Details of its history are unclear but it would seem that the builder was a Knight of Santiago so he applied the most common symbol of the order, the shell. The coat of arms also features on the corner. The front features the coat of arms of the Catholic Monarch.

One of the most important buildings in Salamanca is the university. It was founded in 1218 by Alfonso IX of Leon. The university occupies most of the city's important buildings. One such example is the Hospital del Estudio which is now the University Rectory. It was founded before 1469 and rebuilt around 1472.

The streets of Salamanca are both an education and a pleasure and you will often stumble across a plaza or a courtyard in which to sit and watch life go by. The prescence of students within the city gives it a constant vibrant feeling, especially at night. You will find every kind of restaurant within the city as well as bars, theatres, museums and cinemas. Salamanca is a wonderful city to visit, no matter how long your stay.

Hotels Salamanca & Province - Last Minute Hotels Salamanca

Stil Hotel Salamanca  This hotel is found in the beautiful city of Salamanca listed as Human Heritage by UNESCO. The hotel is just 10 minutes away from the commercial and historical centre next to a shopping centre and easily accessible by car. The hotel has 74 rooms in total, 3 of them are for handicapped and there are also 6 singles and 2 junior suites. All of them are fully equipped with full bathroom, hair dryer, telephone, satellite and interactive TV, internet access, minibar and safe deposit box. They are medium in size and very elegant in decoration and furniture. The hotel restaurant offers a wide variety of set menus as well as a la carte service. The hotel also provides cold and hot buffet breakfast service. The hotel provides all type of meeting rooms and facilities. Also car park and outdoor swimming-pool only opened during summer time.

Segovia

After being a military trading centre under the Roman Empire, Segovia lived its golden age during the Middle Ages, when it became the place of residence of the court of the Trastámaras and an important centre for cattlebreeding and textiles. This period was responsible for the construction of a large number of Romanesque buildings, a wealth of heritage that is still conserved today.

The entrance gate to the historic quarter of Segovia is the Roman Aqueduct, in the plaza del Azoguejo. This jewel of engineering, built under the Roman empire (Ist c.), brought water to the high city from 15 kilometres away. Its 163 arches and 29 metres at its highest point are supported by blocks of stone from the Sierra de Guadarrama without mortar, lead or cement.

The province of Segovia offers us several routes for getting to know its history, art and culture. The palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso, the Valsaín Centre for the Interpretation of Nature and the Riofrío palace and woods are some of the points of interest along the Route of the Royal Residences. The Mudejar Route will put us into contact with this peculiar artistic style in places such as Santa María la Real de la Nieva, Coca or Cuellar. Another of the major attractions of Segovia is the Route of the Castles, in which as well as the defensive architecture of Turégano and Castilnovo we can visit the towns with a strong medieval flavour of Fuentepelayo and Sepúlveda. The Natural Park of las Hoces del Río Duratón and its church of Santiago will show us exceptional landscapes. And to get closer to popular architecture, nothing better than travelling the Route of the Mountain Villages, which will take us to Sotosalbos, Pedraza and Riaza.

Any point in the province is a good place to try Segovian cusine. La Granja broad beans, Castilian soup (made from garlic and bread) and roast lamb and suckling pig, are added to calderetas (meat stews) and game dishes. Cantimpalo spicy sausage is well known as is ponche Segovian (a typical cake). Designation of Origin wines from the Ribera del Duero will accompany these delicious dishes.

The restaurant at the Parador in Segovia offers us a wide menu from which we can try some of these dishes, prepared in a wood oven. Its modern facilities offer us one of the best views in the city.

Hotels Segovia - Last Minute Hotels Segovia

Husa Puerta de Segovia Hotel  At only two kilometers from the magnificent roman aqueduct just off the road Soria/Plasencia, on a small hill from where you can admire the city, the hotel offers to their clients the peacefulness of the countryside. The hotel offers 205 comfortable rooms equipped with air conditioning, heating, piped music, mini bar, safe deposit box, direct telephone and satellite TV. They have been elegantly decorated and furnished in a traditional style and soft colors. The hotel restaurant offers the famous roasted suckling pig as well as other regional specialties together with more innovative recipes. It is a comfortable and welcoming area with quality service. You can find different sports activities around the hotel from tennis to basketball courts and an outdoor swimming pool, along with a small one for children. >> click here for last minute offers | Click here for more information and Booking Details »

Avila

Avila, a World Heritage Site, rises under the shelter of the Gredos Sierra. Behind the walls of this capital of Castile-León, a priceless compound is concealed, made up of Renaissance churches and palaces: a silent witness to the bygone splendor of the city when it was a textile power.

Being the birthplace of Santa Teresa de Jesús, the city has a number of religious buildings —inside and outside the walled enclosure— related to the life of the mystic.

Typical Castilian cuisine, with pulses and meats, among which the favourite choices are usually lamb, roasted suckling pig (cochinillo) and veal T-bone steak. "Patatas revolconas" (a potato dish with bacon, paprika, peppers and onions), excellent garlic soups and a delicious pastry tradition, often originating from the convents. The yemas de Santa Teresa (a sweet made with egg yolks and sugar) are exquisite.

Recommended Hotel in Avila

Parador de Avila  This hotel is located to the north of the city walls, right in the centre of Avila old town. It is housed in a former XVth century palace known as "Piedras Blancas". The rooms are in general spacious with beautiful decorative elements, granite and abode floors, bright colors and some with four posterd beds. Restaurant is traditionally decorated according to the region's style with a cozy wooden floor offering a wide and exquisite selection of the region's specialties. It overlooks the beautiful garden and the walls. The garden stands out, with archaeological remains, as does the magnificent glazed patio, the modular rooms and the cafeteria. >> More Hotels Avila - Last Minute Hotels Avila

Burgos

Burgos is one of the larger provinces in the Castile & Leon region and has the nickname 'cradle of Castile' and it certainly lives up to it. 3 1/2 hours away from Madrid, by train, as dry as a desert and very hot, Burgos is certainly different and individual.

To all intents and purposes Burgos city dates from the end of the 9th century when Diego Porcelos built a castle on the Rio Arlanzon as a first step to ousting the Moors from the remainder of the country.

Sights to see include the Cathedral on Plaza de Santa Maria, started in 1221 and taking 300 years to build, with elegant architecture and fantastic bell towers built in the 15th century. Admission is about 400pts.

Burgos castle was very much destroyed by the French and is now nothing more than a pile of ruins set a little apart from the city, beyond the Arco de San Esteban. It was here that England's Edward I married Eleanor of Castile.

The Casa del Cordon on the Calle Santander is a palace designed as the official residence of the Constables of Castile. Burgos has two museums - the archaeological museum, located across the river is largely concerned with religious matters and the Santa Maria Museum, in the elderly Monasterio de San Juan takes its name from the famous artist. The museum contains well over 100 of his works.

The city is a great place for monasteries and boasts two great examples on the outskirts.

Late night bar entertainment is the norm in Burgos, people usually begin to party after 10pm, the area around the Cathedral is the most liveliest. There are no discos, just bars.

When it comes to shopping, ceramics, metalwork and original artefacts are the order and there's no shortage of them. Shop around.

Altogether an historic town worth visiting if you are staying nearby or stay in one of the hotels in the town.

Hotels Burgos & Province

Abba Hotel Burgos  Abba Hotel Burgos is a brand new establishment next to the Arco de San Martin, in the close vicinity of the Burgos Castle, and just 10 minutes walk to the Burgos Cathedral. The hotel offers 110 comfortable guest rooms that have excellent panoramic views of the city.

Leon

The city of Leon has been very cosmopolitan, even since Roman times when it was known as Legio Septima due to the fact that the seventh legion was stationed here. The Moors moved in briefly but were driven out by the kings of Asturias who chose it as their new capital in AD913.

Leon has a very important link by train with Madrid and other important cities and is linked by several major road routes. The old town of Leon is set back from the river, partly enclosed at one end by the remains of the medieval ramparts. Here you will find tranquil places to rest and a bustling market area and ample historic buildings to view.

One of Leon's glories is without doubt, the Cathedral, one of the finest in Europe and having been constructed from the 13th century for a period of 200 years to completion. Among its unusual features are its towers and steeples where no attempt was made to make them match. It has more than 250 remarkable stained glass windows including a large rose window. In total there is over 1800 square metres of glass. The cathedral museum is also worthy of a visit with its wide array of exhibits.

Zamora

A prominent town located north of the capital on an important communications hub. It was repopulated by King Fernando II, who also awarded it law-codes in 1167.

The most representative building in town is the Parador de Turismo Fernando II hotel, which occupies the Caracol Tower, a 16th-century castle with wide segmental miradors and a beautiful Mudejar coffered ceiling in the main section; although it also has other attractions for the visitor, such as the church of Santa María de Azogue, outstanding in which are the doors, some multicoloured Gothic sculptures and several pillars; San Juan del Mercado, with its prominent southern door; and the hospital of La Piedad, an old pilgrims' hostel.

Valladolid

Valladolid, in the heart of Castilla y Leon was given it´s first proper name by the Moors. They called it Belad Ulid, or Walid. After numerous battles and arguments among the Royal family over who owned, or wanted the town, in 1074 Alfonso VI gave the town to the Count Pedro Ansurez who immediately had two churches built. He also built a bridge over the Rio Pisuerga. Two hospitals were constructed along with many other important buildings. His effect on the town was so great that by 1208 it was affluent enough to attract Royal attention and Alfonso VIII ejected the Count´s decendants and stole the town back.

The town received another boost in 1346 when the university gained formal recognition. By the year 1469, Valladolid was such an important place that the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon were married there. Towards the end of the 16th century, Valladolid aquired a cathedral, although it was never finished.

Valladolid province now spreads across the great plain of the River Duero which races through the middle. Above the river is the ´Granary of Spain` an important grain producing area. Whilst the province has much to offer the visitor in the form of open landscape, most of the province´s activity is centred around the capital.

Valladolid is a wonderful place to visit, especially during the important film festival, founded in 1956 and no doubt playing a major role in the attraction of the massive student population present in the town of today.

Soria

In Soria, located at Duero river, you should pay special attention to the magnificent Romanesque churches.

Palencia

What was once Roman Pallantia has witnessed major historic milestones. A crossroads and an imporant centre of textile manufacturing in other ages, Palencia lived its period of greatest splendour in the Middle Ages. During the reign of Alfonso VIII, the capital became a royal residence and in 1208 the first Spanish university was founded here.

The city is watched over by the imposing sculpture of Cristo del Otero which, standing 20 metres tall, dominates the area from one of the hills surrounding the city.

Calle Mayor, Palencia's main thoroughfare, is the backbone of the city running north to south and boasts distinguished façades and a great many shops. To one side of this major road stands the arcaded Main Square, the site of the façades of the City Hall, from the 19th century, and the church of San Francisco, a Franciscan building from the 13th century.

The surrounding streets lead towards the “unknown beauty”, which is how Palencia's Cathdral (14th century) is known. The austerity of its Gothic façade conceals a wealth of art inside. Among its most prized treasures are a valuable plateresque reredos (16th century) and the crypt of San Antolín, with remains of the Romanesque and Visigothic temples which stood on the same spot centuries earlier. Lastly, inside the cloister, a visit can be made to the Cathedral Museum, which contains works by painters such as El Greco and Zurbarán.

Next to the Cathedral is the Episcopal Palace, site of the Diocesan Museum, whose collection includes pieces of relgious art from several churches in Palencia. Palencia's extensive choice of culture is completed with other premises, such as the Archaeological Museum, the Victorio Macho Museum or the Díaz-Caneja Foundation, this latter institution devoted to contemporary art.

Another traditional image of Palencia is provided by the church of San Miguel. Its openwork tower from the 13th century stands above the structure of Romanesque origin finished in pointing.

The banks of the Carrión is one of Palencia's major recreational areas, with extensive green spaces such as Sotillo de los Canónigos.