The city of Leon is steeped in history. Here, you can see the remains of a Roman fortress wall, medieval towers, and numerous ancient churches.
Fragments of Roman defense walls have been preserved in Leon, complete with several towers and an ancient city gate that forms part of the old municipal fortification system. The children and I call them “belly towers,” and we like them very much. The city also features countless other towers. Our Erika adores them because she associates them with princesses.
The city’s majestic, light-filled Cathedral is exceptionally beautiful. It is considered one of the finest Gothic temples in Spain. It was built on the site of former Roman baths, which were later replaced by a Romanesque church. Looking at the main facade, you will notice a colorful rose window alongside two tall towers.
“Look, there is a little rose,” said Erika, who loves spotting Romanesque roses on church facades.
One of the most significant monuments of European architecture is the Basilica of San Isidoro. Behind its sturdy walls lie paintings that have earned it the title of the Sistine Chapel of Spanish Romanesque art. These 12th-century frescoes adorn the underground crypt of the Royal Pantheon; remarkably, their original colors remain preserved to this day.
On the Plaza Mayor, amid a complex of Baroque buildings, stands the City Hall, historically referred to by locals as the “balcony of the city” because prominent figures would watch events held below from its galleries.
In the San Martin quarter, the handsome Palace of the Guzmans sits next to Casa Botines, designed by Antoni Gaudi. It resembles a dragon’s castle with charming towers, and its interior now houses a museum dedicated to the famous architect.
Interestingly, the name Leon is not directly connected to the animal “lion” (león in Spanish). It derives from the Latin Legio – short for Legio VII Gemina, the Roman military camp established at this site in the 1st century AD.
Over time, the word Legio evolved into Leio in spoken language, eventually becoming León. By the Middle Ages, this merged with the Spanish word for “lion,” prompting the city to adopt a lion on its coat of arms and in its symbolism.
The text was originally written in Ukrainian translated with the help of Google Translate
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