We had tapas at the Alameda, located at Avenida Diaz Ovelar 4, at the southern edge of the Jardin de la Alameda. It's a short walk from...

The Iglesia De Santiago (Church of St. James) dates from the 12th century. The main entrance to the church, On the side facing the town...

The Parador de Villafranca del Bierzo is a favorite with pilgrims wishing for private accommodations. It's also a favorite for...

Our stop for the night was Villafranca del Bierzo, a 20 minute drive from Ponferrada. It's a small town on the Camino de Santiago. Top...

We happened to be in town during the Gran Mercado Medieval. It's a small medieval fair situated right across the street from the Castillo...

Our next stop was to see the Castillo de los Templarios (Castle of the Knights Templar) in Ponferrada, a 50-minute drive from Castrillo...

Castrillo de los Polvazares is one of Spain's "Most Beautiful Villages." It's a sleepy hamlet with 1 street. We didn't see anyone living...

Cocido Maragato is known in this area and one of the best is served at Casa Coscolo in Castrillo de los Polvazares. It's a 12-minute...

You'll find mantecadas all over town. They are muffin-top like pastries. I wasn't a big fan--they were too dry for me. 2021 09 07

Hernan Cortes brought the cocoa bean from Central America to Spain in the 16th century. Some believe that Astorga is the European...

The Plaza Mayor in Astorga is a huge town square. The Town Hall is Baroque in style and topped with a clock. The shield of the town is...

The Cathedral of Astorga can be visited for €6. This includes the museum next door. The Gothic building was begun in 1471, within the...

Gaudi's Palacio Episcopal is a Gothic-style palace built between 1889 and 1913. The original design was Gaudi's but the building was...

Astorga is a quick 45-minute drive from Leon. It's a small town with a population of 11,000. Here are the top things to do in Astorga: 1....

Our home base in Leon was the Hospederia Monastica Pax. It's situated on a quiet square at Plaza de Santa María del Camino, 11 in the Old...

The historic center of Leon is easily walkable. Leon means lion in Spanish but Leon actually derived its name from "legio." It was Rome's...

Buy a drink in Leon and you're served free tapas. Barrio Humedo is a good place to find tapas. Walk up and down and see what they're...

On Plaza San Isidoro, you'll find the San Isidoro church and its museum. In the square, there is a bronze statue representing Las...

We had lunch at Casa Mando. It's located at C. Gral. Lafuente. Be sure to make a reservation online. https://casamando.com/#casa-mando...

Antoni Gaudi is known for his whimsical architecture. His most famous works are in Barcelona but he did have some works outside of...