Spain/Castilla y Leon: Leon
Let’s start with the fact that León was founded in the first century AD! A Roman city, then a Moorish town, it finally reached its apogee as the capital of the Kingdom of Leon in the 12th century, and remained one of the most important cities religiously and politically in Spain after that. Besides the absolutely stupendous Leon Cathedral (next post), the city has several top notch attractions – like 12th century Real Colegiata de San Isidoro de León Church, Monasterio de San Marcos, Palacio de los Guzmanes, and pedestrian streets with beautiful flower-adorned balconies. Not to be missed is the famous Gaudi-designed Casa Botines, seemingly out of place culturally and architecturally (probably true for all Gaudi works).
