The Most Beautiful Buildings in León, Spain
The city of León is one of the most elegant in Spain‘s region of Castilla y León, filled with grand historic buildings, contemporary museums and even a design by Antoni Gaudí. Here’s our pick of the city’s most beautiful buildings.
1. Casa Botines
Building, Cathedral, Museum
2. León Cathedral
Cathedral
3. Convento de San Marcos
Church
4. Palacio de los Guzmanes
Located in the centre of the city, opposite the Casa Botines, the Place of the Guzmanes was built for the wealthy Guzamanes family in place of their old home. Renaissance in style with Plateresque touches, construction began on the palace in 1560. It remained unfinished for many years, however, and wasn’t fully completed until 1977. Today, visitors can see its intricate 16th-century door, flanked by graceful columns, the presidential balcony and inner courtyard surrounded by glass arcades.
Real Colegiata San Isidoro
The Real Colegiata San Isidoro is a royal collegiate, dating back from 1063. A huge honey-coloured structure, both elegant and grand, it houses the Royal Pantheon, church, collegiate library and a museum. As well as all of this, the building doubles up as a luxurious hotel, where you can sleep amongst cloistered corridors filled with antiques.
5. Consistory, Plaza Mayor
Building
León’s Plaza Mayor is a graceful space, surrounded by colonnade arches, multi-coloured buildings and charming balconies. It was built in two stages, the first in 1672 and the second in 1677. It used to be called ‘Plaza Pan‘ Bread Square, because it was home to so many bakeries. At its centre sits the Consistory building, which was similar to a City Hall. Baroque in style, it was built between 1674 and 1677 and is topped by elegant spires. Today, it is home to a handicraft workshop.
6. Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León
Museum
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