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Castilla y Leon

The Legacy of Old Castile

The territory that makes up the Autonomous Community of Castilla y Leon is a wide high tableland framed by mountain ranges with the River Duero as its spinal column.

The region's nine provinces - Avila, Burgos, Leon, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid and Zamora - have a shared history and culture but also have marked differences that define their respective personalities.

Architectural Patrimony

Across its vast extension, you will find a diverse and rich repertory of monuments and a cultural patrimony that includes all styles, epochs and cultures in Castilla y Leon.

From the presence of the Romans at the ruins of Clunia or Numancia, the temples built by the Visigoths and the Mozarabic legacy passing through the defunct Romanesque and Gothic cultures, the exuberant Renaissance and Baroque styles to the more recent Neoclassical without forgetting interesting examples of contemporary architecture.

Government and Learning

The administrative capital is effectively Valladolid, but this fine Castilian city cannot claim to dominate the Castilla y Leon, and Palencia, Burgos, León and Zamora also host governmental insitutions such as the Accounting Committee, the Regional High Court, the Ombudsman and the Consultative Committee.

Valladolid is home to the University of Valladolid and the Miguel de Cervantes European University. There are also universities at Ávila, Burgos, León and Segovia but the most important seat of learning is without doubt the University of Salamanca - founded in 1218 and the oldest university in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe.

World Heritage Sites

The region is home to no fewer than six UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Perhaps the best-known is the section of the Camino de Santiago - Saint James' Way - that crosses both Castilla and León, but the medieval town centres of Segovia, Ávila and Salamanca take you back to key moments in the forging first of Castile and consequently of Spain, as does the Gothic-style Cathedral of Burgos.

Going further back in time, the Roman gold mines at Las Medulas in the Province of León are definitely worth a visit, as are the archaological deposits at Atapuerca near Burgos, where fossil remains of one of the earliest European hominids have been found.

So What's On The Menu?

So much culture makes my stomach rumble and fortunately, the cultural importance of food has been understood for centuries in Castilla y León and has played a part in making the region a popular tourist destination. Though each of the nine provinces has its particular specialties, many recipes cross provincial borders and excellent soups, for example, is staple fare throughout the region.

One of my favourites Cocido, which is served in three parts: first a rich broth simmered with noodles; second, garbanzos and potatoes; and finally a variety of meats, sausage, chicken, and meatballs or dumplings. Similarly, Sopa Castellana, a savory soup made with bread, ham, poached egg, and garlic can be eaten at most watering holes.

León's culinary history goes back to the lords and rich monasteries of the Middle Ages, and few provinces offer such plenty and diversity. Fifty commercial enterprises alone are involved in making Cecina de León, a centuries-old recipe for cured, dried and smoked beef, but the centrepiece of any meal in Castilla y León has to

Castilla y Leon Guides

Given that it's a little bit off the beaten tourist track, it's difficult to find a well-researched guidebook to Castilla y Leon.

But a book that combines my love of food with a wealth of local information is 'In The Kitchens of Castile'.

For more general information, you can't go far wrong with the Rough Guide To Spain - it has excellent sections on all the regions. You'll also find a lot of useful brochures at local tourist offices.