Our next evening excursion was to Leon. We went in small groups of 6 again. Leon was about a 2-hour train ride north.
Although 2 hours there and then another 2 hours back makes for a very long evening, we are trying to take advantage of our time here and see as much of Spain as possible. The train rides are also a great way for everyone to get caught up on homework and to study together.
Leon is a beautiful city. It's what you think of when you think if a Spanish city. It is very clean and colorful, with dark stone walkways and flower baskets hanging from every window.
On our way into the city from the train station, our first stop was to the Casa de Bontines, designed by the famous architect from Barcelona, Antoni Gaudi in 1893.
The stand-out attraction of Leon is it's Gothic cathedral. They say that it is one of the most beautiful in all of Spain. Leon's cathedral was built in the 13th century. It has two soaring towers, flying buttresses and a beautiful inside full of colorful stained-glass windows. My guidebook calls it 'Spain's premier Gothic masterpiece'.
The 1800 square meters of stained-glass windows were designed during the 13th and 16th centuries and brings a kaleidoscope of color into the cathedral. These pictures that we have do not do it justice. You have to see it in person to see the true color and beauty of these windows.
While walking through the city, we saw many 'peregrinos' that were hiking the Camino de Santiago. Leon is one if the major cities along the Camino de Santiago. This is a 800-mile pilgrimage that starts in France and ends in Santiago de Compostela, a city in the northwestern corner of Spain. To stay in the trail, the hikers follow these yellow arrows.
After seeing the main highlights of Leon, we went to the Plaza Mayor and relaxed at one of the outdoor cafes. We walked around the city a little more; stopping into some shops and getting some ice cream and candy, and then made our way back to the train station.