Page 291 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

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return, in 1497, from the central role in the early
second of his voyages years of the Reconquest.
to the Americas. The city’s Gothic cathedral,
Burgos’s cathedral on Plaza de la Regla, dates
(see pp290–91) is a from the mid-13th century.
UNESCO World Heritage As well as some glorious
site and the city’s most stained glass, it has a
prominent landmark. splendid west front,
Nearby, the Iglesia de decorated with a
San Nicolás boasts a series of 13th-
fine 16th-century century carvings.
The Arco de Santa María in Burgos, adorned altarpiece, while the The Colegiata de
with statues and turrets Iglesia de San Lorenzo San Isidoro is built into the
has a splendid Baroque Roman walls encircling the
7 Burgos ceiling. The Museo de city. The Romanesque
Burgos contains Panteón Real (Royal
Burgos. * 179,900. £ @ n Plaza
de Alonso Martínez 7 (947-20 31 25). archaeological and Pantheon) is
fine-art collections. decorated with
Founded in 884, Burgos was the West of the city carved capitals
capital of the united kingdoms of is the 12th-century Statue of El Cid, Burgos’s most and 12th-century
Castile and León from 1073 until Real Monasterio de famous son frescoes. León’s old
1492. A few hundred years later, Huelgas, a former quarter is a maze of
Franco chose Burgos as his convent that houses narrow alleyways,
headquarters during the Civil War. a textile museum. lined with bars, cafés, churches,
Approaching the city via the and old mansions. The Hostal de
bridge called the Puente de E Museo de Burgos San Marcos was founded in the
Santa María, you enter the old Calle Miranda 13. Tel 947-26 58 75. 12th century as a monastery for
town through the grand Arco Open Tue–Sun. & (except Sat & pilgrims on route to Santiago
de Santa María. The other main Sun). 7 (see p292). A gem of Spanish
route into Burgos is the Puente E Real Monasterio de Huelgas Renaissance architecture, the
de San Pablo, where a statue Calle de los Compases. Tel 947-20 16 present building was begun in
commemorates local hero El 30. Open 10am–2pm, 3:45–6:30pm 1513 for the Knights of Santiago.
Cid (1043–99). Born Rodrigo Tue–Sat; 10:30am–3pm Sun & public Today, it houses a luxurious hotel
Díaz de Vivar, this great warrior hols. Closed Jan 1 & 6, Good Fri, and the Museo de León.
fought for both the Moors May 1, May 30, Dec 24, 25, & 31. 8
and the Christians in the 7 & (except Wed & Thu pm for E Museo de León
Reconquest, and for his heroism EU residents). Plaza Santo Domingo 8. Tel 987-23 64
was named El Cid, from the 05. Open Tue–Sun. Closed main
Arabic Sidi (Lord). He is 8 León public hols. & (free Sat & Sun).
immortalized in the anonymous León. * 134,000. £ @ n Plaza
poem, El Cantar del Mío Cid (1180). de la Regla 4 (987-23 70 82). Environs
Not far from the statue of El To the east of León, the
Cid stands the Casa del Cordón, Founded as a camp for the 10th-century Iglesia de San
a 15th-century former palace Romans’ Seventh Legion, Miguel de Escalada is one of the
(now a bank). It was here León became the capital of finest surviving churches built
that the Catholic Monarchs the kingdom of León in the by the Mozarabs – Christians
welcomed Columbus on his Middle Ages and played a influenced by the Moors.

Detail from a 13th-century carving decorating the west front of León’s cathedral

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