Astorga - The Capital Of Maragateria

Astorga is the beautiful capital of the Maragateria County, which is rich in medieval legacy. The medieval aspect and influence of the city is a result of its situation at a crossroads, right in the place where the Silver Route and the Pilgrims road to Santiago de Compostela meet. If you want to see the purest tradition belonging to the Pilgrims Road, you are in the right place, as Astorga keeps inside its walls an impressive collection of churches, monasteries, convents and hospitals. They all take the tourist a few hundred years back in Spains history.

Sightseeing in Astorga

Besides the beautiful monasteries, convents, churches and hospitals, Astorga is famous for the Bishops Palace, a work of the well known modernist architect, Antoni Gaudi. Your sightseeing walking must not miss this work. Astorga was built by the Romans, but during the middle Ages, it was conquered and reconquered by both the Arabs and the Christians, this is why Astorga has so many places where the influences of both dynasties can still be felt. Now, going back to sightseeing, start your historic journey with the Puerta Del Sol, the gate that will lead you to the fortified area of the city. In the fortified area, lies the Cathedral, a building whose construction started in the 15th century and ended only in the 17th century. The building preserves Baroque, Renaissance, Romanesque and Gothic elements that will definitely impress the tourist. Continue your walk to the City Hall, a Baroque building from the 17th century, the work of the famous Manuel de la Lastra. Include the Gardens of la Sinagoga, situated in the Alijbe Park and the Chocolate Museum on your itinerary. Finish your walk into one of the numerous restaurants in the city, in order to taste the traditional recipes of the region and the ones of the province. Apples, cherries, peppers, chestnuts, pears, beef, sausages, they are all included in the local dishes.

Accommodation

Do you really want to feel the spirit, the fragrance of Astorga? Then, instead of choosing a hotel for accommodation, choose a villa. They can be found all over Astorga and the special thing about villas is that, they are all decorated in the most pure traditional way. You can even see that, the owner will cook for you the local dishes. In addition to that, they are all small paradises on earth, situated in picturesque places that offer idyllic views.