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Published: July 15th 2022
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Real Colegiata de San IsidoroLeon is perhaps not one of the best-known Spanish cities but it deserves to be better known and not just because of the Texas rock band named after the Medieval Kings that hailed from here.
Historically it is an important place as it can be considered one of the earliest democratic societies as it established a proper independent judicial system back in Medieval era. It has history back to Roman times, but seems to have hit its peak in the 15th Century.
Today it attracts visitors not just due to its history but also because it is a key junction on the Camino de Santiago. On our drive here from Haro we follow one of the popular pilgrim paths and we see many people on the path, despite this not being the best season to walk. The camino is well marked by seashell symbols. In the city of Leon there are special stations to help the walkers find their way and refresh. It is no surprise therefore that our accommodation in Leon is an Albergue – a place for the pilgrims to stay (ie a hostel), which we find to be not only good value but good fun (that
is apart from being woken in the middle of the night by some dippy girl who had lost the code to the front door – I should have let her sleep on the pavement as a lesson!).
The city is quite compact and although the albergue is 2km outside the centre there is a bus right into the city centre. We tour the College San Isidoro which is – for me – the standout attraction here, but I'm slightly surprised they do not permit any pictures inside the museum. Next day we walk around the city walls which date back to Roman times and see the excavations of one of the Roman gatehouses which is next to the cathedral. The cathedral is considered the top attraction in the city, and though it is magnificent the old town is, for me, perhaps the bigger appeal here. It is full of character with numerous squares, churches, bars and restaurants as well as a Gaudi designed building (Casa de Botines) which has a weird collection of painted sheep outside promoting a future cheese exhibition.
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