Castilla y Leon

The largest region of Spain, Castile and Leon, combines most of the historical region of Old Castile together with the historical region of Leon. The region is set upon the flat, raised plain of the meseta, and surrounded by mountains. It means the winters are cold and the summers are hot!

The region is criss-crossed by the major route linking Portugal to the rest of Europe, as well as by the ancient pilgrimage route of the Camino de Santiago (Way of St James) and the Roman via Plata.

Castile means land of castles and it is a land full of castles marking the struggle for dominance between the Muslim and Catholic rulers of Spain.

The whole region is rich in architectural treasures of many eras. Segovia has a magnificent Roman aqueduct, together with Romanesque churches, a Gothic cathedral and Alcazar a Moorish fortress, with many different stylistic elements. Avila is entirely enclosed in Romanesque walls, while Salamanca is famed for having one of the oldest universities in Europe and is still bustling with students today.

In Valladolid, the region’s capital, the sculpture museum has works from Spanish masters of the 16th and 17th centuries.