Ruta de la Plata

The origins of the city go back to Roman times, when the Legio VII Gemina, created by the Emperor Galba, established camp between the Rivers Bernesga and Torio around the year 68 A.D.

In the year 586, Leovigildo made León part of his domains. Towards the year 717, the Moslems temporarily occupied the city until the Reconquista (Reconquest) converted it into a Christian stronghold. It was destroyed by Abderramán II in the 9th century, being subsequently conquered and resettled by King Ordoño I. At the beginning of the 10th century, King Ordoño II moved the Court of the Asturleonés Realm from Oviedo to León, making the town his capital. At the end of the 10th century it was razed by Almanzor.

In the year 1017, Alfonso V recovered the capital and proceeded to rebuild the old Roman city walls. This king promulgated what are considered the first municipal laws: los Buenos Fueros (Good Charter). Around the year 1035, Fernando I and Sancha ordered the Real Basilica de San Isidro to be built. All through the 12th century, new districts came into being that make up what is known as the Burgo Nuevo (New Town) of the city; León was also enriched by the contributions of the pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela.

In 1188, Alfonso IX convoked what may be defined as the first democratic courts in Europe. In the 13th century, Fernando II el Santo, commenced the building of the Cathedral of Santa Maria, which would open for worship towards the year 1302. In the 16th century, Fernando el Católico granted authorisation for the construction of the Convento de San Marcos (Convent of St. Mark).

In the year 1808, León was to be invaded by Napoleonic troops. The first railway line was opened in 1863; it would be the LeónPalencia railway.

At the end of the 19th century, a great Catalonian architect would visit our city, namely Don Antoni Gaudí i Cornet, to take up a commission to build the Casa de Botines. Towards the year 1920, the city underwent an urban expansion. And in 1979, the long-awaited University of León was to be founded.

It is a city on the Camino de Santiago (Jacobean Trail), which has always afforded a warm welcome to the pilgrims, travellers and tourists who have made it their home for a few hours or days at a time. Its historical importance is patent in every nook and cranny; historical traces appear in each plot of its attractive historic quarter. Narrow streets with age-old names of guilds, like Platerías (Silversmiths), Azabachería (Jet jewellers), etc., give the visitor an idea of the day-to-day activities of those who dwelt here in years gone by.

But these streets have not lost their flavour or their commercial past. With a change in trade, they nowadays tempt all those who pass through, whether locals or visitors, with the offer of the best of our cuisine and wines. Whether in an informal setting, with tapeo (savouring small servings or tapas, usually among friends), so typically Spanish, or sat at a table, all who find themselves in León will visit our Barrio Húmedo (Wet Quarter). But the city not only offers up its rich past. Those who visit us will be able to enjoy a modern, commercial town with residential districts with wide avenues and gardened areas alongside examples of modern, avant-garde architecture; good examples of which are buildings like the City of León Auditorium, the new Crucero Civic Centre, the regional governmental seat of the Junta de Castilla y León and what is to be the Museum of Contemporary Art of Castille and León.