Page 342 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

340  CENTR AL SP AIN

Introducing Central Spain

Much of Spain’s vast central plateau, the meseta, is covered
with wheat fields or dry, dusty plains, but there are many
attractive places to explore. Central Spain’s mountains,
gorges, forests and lakes are filled with wildlife. A deep sense
of history permeates the towns and cities of the tableland,
reflected in some stunning architecture: the Roman ruins
of Mérida, the medieval mansions of Cáceres, the Gothic
cathedrals of Burgos, León and Toledo, the Renaissance
grandeur of Salamanca, and castles almost everywhere.

León Cathedral (see pp358–9), an
outstanding Gothic building, was
completed during the 14th century.
As well as many glorious windows
of medieval glass, it has superb Cistierna
carved choir stalls depicting biblical Oña
scenes and everyday life. Ponferrada León
Sahagún
Astorga
Burgos
CASTILLA Y LEÓN
Puebla de (See pp350–81)
Sanabria
Benavente Palencia
Aranda de Soria
Peñafiel Duero
Valladolid
Zamora
Tordesillas
Salamanca (see pp362–5)
is the site of some of the
finest Renais sance and Medinaceli
Plateresque architecture Salamanca Arévalo Sigüenza
in Spain. Among the Segovia Maranchón
city’s most notable
buildings are the
university, its façade a Ciudad Rodrigo Ávila MADRID Guadalajara
mass of carved detail;
the old and new cathe-
drals (built side by side); Béjar Madrid Cañaveras
and the handsome Plaza Getafe
Mayor, built in warm
golden sandstone. Plasencia Aranjuez Cuenca
Talavera Tarancón
de la Reina
Navalmoral de
la Mata Toledo
CASTILLA-LA MANCHA
(See pp382–403)
Cáceres Alarcón
Trujillo
Consuegra San Clemente
EXTREMADURA
(See pp404–17)
Herrera del Ciudad Tormelloso
Badajoz Duque Real Manzanares Albacete
Mérida Almagro
Valdepeñas
Puertollano
Zafra Hellín
Museo Nacional de Arte Romano
in Mérida (see pp414–15) houses Llerena
Roman treasures. The city has a well- 0 kilometres 50
preserved Roman theatre still in use.
0 miles 50
Historic city of Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha
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