The crossroads of the Spanish Camino and the Silver Way

Spain Westward Journey ~ León (Region) The capital of the Malagatria county in the province of León has a rich medieval heritage due to its location at the crossroads of the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage Route and the Silver Way. The walled town preserves its churches, monasteries and hospitals, allowing visitors to rediscover the purest traditions of the pilgrimage. Another notable feature of the town's streets is the pinnacle of modernist architect Antoni Gaudí: the Bishop's Palace. Astorga is also a great opportunity to enjoy the region's rich gastronomy. Astorga is located at the intersection of two important Spanish routes, which were on the itineraries of pilgrims in the past. The older of the two routes is the Silver Route, which dates back to Roman times. This route (Gijón-Seville) was the one used to transport metals extracted from mines in the north of the peninsula to shipping ports in the south. During the Middle Ages, it was used by Arab and Christian armies during their conquests and reconquests. This well-travelled route for centuries later became the route for pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela. The Way of St. James , a Jacobean route declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, also passes through Astorga. It's part of a series of roads crisscrossing Europe and northern Spain leading to Santiago de Compostela, a holy city that's home to the tomb of the Apostle St. James. The historic quarter of this small Galician town is also a World Heritage Site. #JanuaryDestinations2025 #SpainTravel #CastileandLeón