The 10 Best Things to do in Castile and Leon, Spain

June 9, 2021 Franklyn Hardiman

Discover the best top things to do in Castile and Leon, Spain including Museo Nacional de Escultura, Acueduct of Segovia, Ciudad Vieja de Salamanca, Santa Maria de Leon Cathedral, La Basilica De San Isidoro De Leon, Plaza Mayor, Alcazar of Segovia, Zamora, Catedral De Burgos, The Walls of Avila.
Restaurants in Castile and Leon

1. Museo Nacional de Escultura

Calle Cadenas de San Gregorio 1 calle Cadenas de San Gregorio, 1, 47011 Valladolid Spain +34 983 25 03 75 http://museoescultura.mcu.es
Excellent
82%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
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5.0 based on 1,583 reviews

Museo Nacional de Escultura

The National Museum of Sculpture is one of the most important European museums on this discipline because of the quality of its collection, ranging from the Middle Ages to the Baroque, with a predominance of polychrome wood works: Alonso Berruguete, Juan de Juni, Gregorio Fernández, Mena, Martínez Montañés, Alonso Cano, etc. The 19th century, is represented by the plaster cast collection coming from the old National Museum of Artistic Reproductions. The historic value of the four buildings which make up the museum along the street reinforces the worthy character of the visit. The main building, Saint Gregory´s College, is one of the most singular examples of the architecture in the 15th century, next to the Palace of the Marquis de Villena, the House of the Sun and the church of St. Benedict the Elder.

Reviewed By O7919AKrafaelm

No more no less. Also the magnificent building with a delicious façade and two amzing patios. If you are interested in "semana santa" you would discoversome of the famous "pasos" of our city.

2. Acueduct of Segovia

Plaza del Azoguejo 1, 40001 Segovia Spain +34 921 42 59 11 http://www.turismodesegovia.com/es/que-ver/monumentos/acueducto
Excellent
85%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
1%
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5.0 based on 9,595 reviews

Acueduct of Segovia

Reviewed By Sandbridgetraveler

We did a day trip with a private guide to Segovia to see the aqueduct which is one of the most well preserved elevated Roman aqueducts in the world. It is an engineering marvel built out of interlocking stones with no mortar. Built it in the 15th century it is difficult to imagine that it is still standing and as well preserved as it is today.

3. Ciudad Vieja de Salamanca

Plaza Mayor 32, 37002 Salamanca Spain
Excellent
83%
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16%
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5.0 based on 2,927 reviews

Ciudad Vieja de Salamanca

Reviewed By NikoliGogol - Edmonton, Canada

This is a gorgeous old city with Plaza Major, Churches, Convents, University Buildings, and administrative buildings. Plenty of places to eat and people watch.

4. Santa Maria de Leon Cathedral

Plaza Regla S/N, 24003 Leon Spain +34 987 87 57 70 http://catedraldeleon.org
Excellent
78%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
3%
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4.5 based on 5,243 reviews

Santa Maria de Leon Cathedral

Gothic-era cathedral of golden sandstone with soaring stained glass windows and richly decorated West portals.

Reviewed By Geraldin523 - Darlington, United Kingdom

A magnificent feat of engineering and well worth a visit inside. Enjoyed Pilgrim Mass in this wonderful cathedral

5. La Basilica De San Isidoro De Leon

Plaza de San Isidoro No 4, 24003 Leon Spain +34 987 87 61 61 [email protected] http://www.museosanisidorodeleon.com
Excellent
74%
Good
21%
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4.5 based on 2,133 reviews

La Basilica De San Isidoro De Leon

The museum has the wellknown as the Sixtine Chapell of the Romanesque Art because of the 11th century romanesque frescoes, and the mythical chalice related by a recent research with the Holy Grail .

Reviewed By SunshinefromUSA - Wisconsin, United States

We took at chance on an English tour of this museum and were completely impressed! Besides the Holy Grail claims, their guide was fantastic and did a great job leading us through the history of carvings, paintings and their collections relics. They have been able to save many items from surrounding religious houses that no longer exist, so overlook the hype and enjoy your tour.

6. Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor, 37008 Salamanca Spain +34 923 21 83 42 http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/arte/monumentos/salamanca/plaza_mayor_de_salamanca.html
Excellent
77%
Good
20%
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4.5 based on 7,958 reviews

Plaza Mayor

This 18th-century square is one of the largest in Spain.

Reviewed By OnHols2017 - Geneva, Switzerland

Beautiful square in the town centre, always busy, with restaurants on all 4 sides it is the ideal place to have a coffee or G&T and watch the world go by.

7. Alcazar of Segovia

Plaza Reina Victoria Eugenia, S/N, 40003 Segovia Spain +34 921 46 07 59 [email protected] http://www.alcazardesegovia.com/
Excellent
67%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
5%
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4.5 based on 6,016 reviews

Alcazar of Segovia

Fortress of the Kings of Castile and Royal School of Artillery Its picture has been around the world: a unique fairy tale-like palace that brings together architectural tastes of different monarchs. It tells -to all those who come to know it- ancient palatial stories. Austere, as they were the Castilian kings, raised on the rock at the confluence of the valleys of the rivers Eresma and Clamores, the Alcazar seems to watch over the city. Its beautiful Tower keep, often compared to the bow of a boat sailing between the two rivers, is of a stunning beauty. Tourists are amazed to realize that the fortress is a living part of this Castilian city, chosen as a place of residence for many of the monarchs of the Trastamara dynasty.

Reviewed By LaurieB980 - Portland, United States

Our tour guide took us here to this city, a UNESCO site, for a tour which included this beautiful castle in Segovia. It is said that Walt Disney used this castle as well as the Neuschwanstein castle in Germany as his inspiration for the castle at Disneyland, and we could see why! It is built high on what seems like a huge rocky formation with sheer dropoffs on many of the castle sides. The day we were there and outside looking over the edge, a sharp wind came up along with rain, and we had to be careful not to get blown away! We heard that they often have to close the terrace due to the high wind possibly blowing people over the edge down many feet below!! It is a great place to visit, and well worth the hour or so drive from Madrid.

8. Zamora

North of Salamanca, Zamora Spain http://www.spain.info/es/que-quieres/ciudades-pueblos/otros-destinos/zamora.html
Excellent
59%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
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4.5 based on 1,138 reviews

Zamora

Reviewed By JesusMA5 - Zamora, Spain

A beautiful,small city with lots of art in its streets.Good restaurants and bars. Friendly ambient...

9. Catedral De Burgos

Plaza Santa Maria s/n, 09003 Burgos Spain +34 947 20 47 12 [email protected] http://www.catedraldeburgos.es
Excellent
80%
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4.5 based on 6,861 reviews

Catedral De Burgos

Reviewed By VadimM67 - Murmansk, Russia

The model of construction for the Cathedral in Burgos was the Cathedral in Saint-Denis, although the architects were not from France. Simply French Gothic was an example of the genre in the XIII century, when king Fernando III decided to build this greatest Cathedral. However, the Gothic style is mostly outside. Renaissance and Baroque dominate the interior. The reason is trivial - the Cathedral was built for a long time and constantly rebuilt. The entrance is separate for Catholics through the Western portal, and for tourists from the southern side through the Puerta Sarmental for 8 euros. It's worth it! The main hit in the Catholic part of the Cathedral is the crucifix, which was allegedly made by Nicodemus, who removed Christ from the cross (in fact, the XIV century). Catholics believe that nails and crowns are the same , and hair and nails still grow, so every week they have to do a manicure. The other chapels are located in the tourist part of the Cathedral. We need to take an audio guide for a detailed introduction. I found the most interesting several chapels. The Capilla de la precentacion (#8 in the audio guide) is interesting with the hyperrealistic tombstone of the Capella's client, Gonzalo Diaz de Lerma, and the painting "the Holy family"by Sebastian del Piombo. Chapel of Santa Anna (#12), created by the German Juan de cologna, who built the spires of the Cathedral. The main masterpiece is the altar dedicated to the genealogy of St. Anna of Jesse, the father of king David. Gilles de Siloé created this altar. He also began creating an altar for the chapel of the Constable (#22). This is the burial place of the most powerful man in Castile after the king constable de Velasco. The tombstones of de Velasco and his wife, as well as the altar of the chapel are made in the Renaissance style. Of course you can't pass by Capilla Major. The altar of the chapel is made by the brothers Rodrigo and Martín de la Haya in the Mannerist style. In addition to the chapels, the Golden staircase is a masterpiece of the Cathedral. Escalera dorada was created by Gil de Siloé's son Diego de Siloé. It leads to the street, which is 8 meters higher than the floor of the Cathedral, but it is not visible because the doors are never opened. The center of the Cathedral is given to the main Shrine-the grave of the hero of Spain CID and his wife Ximena. CID (real name Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar) became a hero of the Reconquista a century after his death in 1099. Castilian biographers changed the biography of the Castilian knight retroactively. They changed the CID's capture of Valencia for themselves to a liberation for the king of Castile. Biographers kept silent about the campaigns of CID with the Moors against the Christians. Sid's wife Jimena was exiled from Valencia and she took her husband's bones and moved North. After visiting many places, the hero's relics were laid to rest in the Cathedral of Burgos in 1921 under a modest pink slab. The magnificent stalls of the choir Renaissance Plateresque work by Bigarny are located near the CID`s tomb. You need to get acquainted with the Cathedral Museum and two cloisters on the way out of the Cathedral. It's not as impressive as the main part, but it's still interesting.

10. The Walls of Avila

Calle Tomas Luis de Victoria 6, 05001 Avila Spain +34 920 35 00 00 http://muralladeavila.com/en/
Excellent
71%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
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4.5 based on 5,304 reviews

The Walls of Avila

Reviewed By NikoliGogol - Edmonton, Canada

The most attractive feature of Avila. Very well maintained formidable walls. For five euro, you are given access to parts of the upper walls for a great walk.

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