León, City and capital in Castile and León, Spain
León sits in northwest Spain at 837 meters above sea level and shows a mix of Gothic towers, Romanesque churches, and sections of Roman wall. Streets open onto squares with paved surfaces, while the newer districts beyond the historic core display lower buildings and wider avenues.
Romans founded a military camp here in 29 BC called Legio, which later became an important stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago. In the Middle Ages, the city served as the capital of a kingdom that covered large parts of the Iberian Peninsula.
The old quarter preserves a network of narrow lanes around the Plaza Mayor, where bars and small shops line up side by side. In the early evening, locals fill the streets and move from place to place, sampling tapas.
Buses link the old town with outer districts and run regularly during the day, while train stations offer direct connections to Madrid and other cities. Most points of interest sit within walking distance of each other, making the center easy to explore on foot.
Restaurants in the city serve cecina, a type of air-dried beef made following old recipes from the surrounding mountains. The preparation follows methods passed down over generations and gives the meat a strong flavor.
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