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Leon -- Turism

What was the Roman Legio VII Gemina Pia Felix preserves an interesting Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance legacy, the result of its splendour during the Middle Ages. The Plaza Mayor forms the centre of this city, crossed by the river Bernesga. Among this baroque collection of buildings stands the City Hall, popularly known as the 'Balcony of the City', since from its galleries the nobles observed the town's activities taking place.
Around the “Húmedo”

Next to the City Hall is the neighbourhood of San Martín, built around the square and the church of the same name. In this area, there are small palaces and large houses such as the Casa de las Carnicerías and the Palace of Count Luna. The institution which once supplied meat to the city is a 17th-century building which today houses an exhibition hall. The palace has a 14th-century Gothic façade with Arab influences and a large dressed tower. Also worth a visit is the church of San Salvador de Palat del Rey, dating from the 10th century and the oldest in the city.

Dotted around these streets are bars and restaurants where we can sample the best of the region's gastronomy and which have made it worthy of the nickname El Húmedo. We can continue our route on to the Palace of los Guzmanes and the Casa de los Botines. The main façade of the palace, site of the County Council, dates back to the 16th century and featuring prominently on the building are the lattice balconies and the lateral façade. The Casa de los Botines, meanwhile, is the work of the architect Antonio Gaudí, who launched the modernist style in the city. León has more examples of this artistic trend in the square of Santo Domingo.

From here, we can enter the area surrounded by the Roman walls, with the city's two jewels located at either end: the Cathedral and Basilica of San Isidro. The “Pulcra Leonina”, one of the most striking Gothic temples in Spain, stands on the site of an old Roman baths and a Romanesque church. Approaching it face on offers us, on its main front, a view of one of the most significant series of Gothic sculptures, a richly-coloured rose window and two towers, curiously free-standing from the main façade. But perhaps what most captures the visitor's attention are the 1,800 square metres of stained-glass windows. Once inside, stopping by at the choir, the Romanesque tombs in the transept and the chapels of the ambulatory is a must. A visit to the Cathedral Museum, one of the most complete of its kind, takes us to see the cloister and a plateresque stairway, as well as major paintings and sculptures.

One of the most significant sites in the whole of Europe is the Basilica de San Isidoro. Its thick walls jealously guard what is known as the 'Sistine Chapel' of the Spanish Romenesque style. It is a series of frescoes from the 12th century which decorate the underground crypt of the Royal Pantheon and which still preserve their original colour. We can find scenes from the Old and New Testament, floral motifs and a calendar of agricultural tasks. But the exceptional condition and quality of the paintings mustn't distract us from viewing the architectural features. The sculptures on the main fronts are a true Bible in images. The museum is housed in its cloisters and conserves an archive of codices, incunabula and a Visigothic Bible, among other works. Its prestigious collection of medieval art is enriched by the San Isidro Chest, the Ivory Chest or the Chalice of Doña Urruca.

Walking around the city, you can discover churches of all ages and styles. In San Marcelo there is a reredos created in part by Gregorio Fernández, one of the most significant sculptors of the Spanish baroque style. Meanwhile, a church which recalls the splendour of the Pilgrim's Road to Santiago de Compostela as it passed through Léon is the Virgen del Camino, a highly venerated figure in the city.

Hotels

Urban
Carrera San Jerónimo, 34
28014 Madrid

     



With a swimming pool open to the sky, a moonlight restaurant, a spectacular patio adjoining the heart of the city and the last word in architecture, in Madrid the Hotel Urban has come into being. Beyond question, it is a new hotel that will be a reference point for quality..

Abba Castilla Plaza
Castellana, 220
28046 Madrid

     



In the heart of the Paseo de la Castellana and close to the "Kio Towers",one of the most important financial centre in
Spain. Just 15 minutes away from the airport and close to the trade fair Juan Carlos I. Built in 1993, with 183 full-equipped rooms, totally soundproofed and air conditioned. Large modular meeting rooms to celebrate every kind of event. Make sure you try the exquisite Basque cuisine at the hotel's restaurant 'Amalur'. And for your leisure time our gym with panoramic views, sauna, jacuzzi and steam bath. We recomend you our Cafetería "Las Torres" with live piano music in the evening..

Conde Duque
Plaza del Conde Valle Suchil 5
28015 Madrid

     



The Gran Hotel Conde Duque, one of Madrid's outstanding buildings, is located in a quiet garden square in the city center, away from the noise but close to important cultural and leisure places such as Plaza de España, Gran Via, Puerta del Sol, Paseo de la Castellana and Colon Square. In the very heart of town. We combine luxury and comfort with the most modern facilities, offering the best service for both business and leisure..

Golf courses

Alhaurin Golf & Hotel Resort
Carretera Mijas - Alhaurín El Grande, Km. 6
29120 Alhaurín el Grande (Málaga)
Tel. +34 952595970 / Fax: +34 952594586

holes: 72
par: 18


This course is situated right in the heart of the Costa del Golf, at the foot of the Mijas mountains, in the municipality of Alhaurin El Grande from which the course takes its name. Designed by Severiano Ballesteros, the course fits the terrain like a glove and respects the natural lie of the land, so its is a very uneven course. The fairways are long and narrow which means you will need to hit an accurate drive if you don't want to end up in the water hazards or the numerous bunkers and bushes. Having said that, the level of difficulty of the course can be adapted to all levels because of the versatile nature of the tees which offer up to 6 tee-off positions. As well as the 18-hole round designed by Severiano Ballesteros, the course has another two rounds, one consisting of 18 par-3 holes and another consisting of 9 short holes.
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Club de Golf los Moriscos
Urbanización Playa Granada, s/n
18600 Motril (Granada)
Tel. +34 958825527 / Fax +34 958255251

holes: 9
par: 35


Los Moriscos is an all-round sports and leisure complex situated next to the sea yet within easy reach of the Sierra Nevada ski resort. The course, designed by Ibergolf and Manuel Piñero, opened in 1974 and is mainly flat. However the , the large greens, two lakes, palm trees, sugar cane and the abundance of exotic fruit plantations, including papaya and mango, ensure that playing golf here is interesting; and with all theses natural hazards challenging too..