Leon Tickets

Tickets for Leon

A sense of religious awe & historical reverence is overwhelming as one looks at the solemnly splendid paintings on the rose windows in the Gothic Cathedral. And stepping onto the street only a few miles away, the shockingly bold multi-colored panels adorning the ultramodern Museum of Contemporary Art create such a blinding contrast as to leave one transfixed! Leon specializes in pushing the surprise factor a notch higher, & the molding of distinct periodic ideas is exactly what makes this capital of the Leon province a worthwhile destination. Famed for its colorful festivals, Leon is the largest municipality of its namesake province in northwestern Spain. The province itself was formed by union of Leon, Salamanca & Zamora as an administrative unit in northwestern Iberian Peninsula in 1833, finishing the glorious era of the Kingdom of Leon that stretched back to the migration of Christian princes of Asturias to Leon in 910 A.D.

The entire region of the autonomous community of Castile & Leon lies at an altitude of 670 m in the large plateau of Meseta Central over Douro River Basin. Northwards, the Cantabrian Mountains rear their heads while Extremadura lies in the south, next to Madrid & Castile-La Mancha. Flanked by Basque Country in the east & Galicia in the west, the region isn't particularly green, with a few adjoining & secluded valleys opening up. The altitude & northern proximity to the Pyrenees range plays a role in lessening the severity of the summers, which still reach 27oC. Winters remain cold in the 0-4oC region with frequent snowfalls, giving it a Continental Mediterranean climate. A quarter of the province's populace resides in Leon, swelling it to nearly 137,000. Madrid & Barcelona are connected to Leon with daily flights to the city's La Virgen del Camino airport, while a bus trip can be made to Leon if one uses the Valladolid airport. Several Leon-bound buses depart from Madrid's Mendez Aalvaro bus station every day, whereas fast trains (ALVIA) service can speed one off to Leon inside 3 hours. Direct train routes connect to Barcelona & Pontevedra as well.

First sprouting as a Roman military encampment to resist the Astures & protect the gold trade in 1st century BC, the city gets its name from the subsequent Legio VII Germina legion that made it a permanent camp in 68 AD. Following occupation by the Visigoths & Muslims, the area was finally repopulated by the Christian king Ordono I, & the Kingdom of Leon started off in 910 AD with the migration of the princes. A prosperous period followed, with Castile joined to the Kingdom in 1230. Many of the awe-inspiring structures in Leon stand from that age, with the Leon Cathedral top of the list. Starting with the beautiful clock tower, the interior contains the Virgin Blanca's image, breathtaking artistry on the rose windows, the famous Plateresque screen & the remains of the town's patron saint in a silver urn amid brilliant sculptures & painting in the museum. The Romanesque Basilica of San Idoro contains the unique carved tympanum & the unreal chapel of the kings of Leon. The plateresque fa?ade adorning the monastery of San Marcos makes for interesting viewing. The first European Parliament still holds its sessions in the impressive historic Palacio de los Guzmanes. And Leon shows just why it is considered an emblem of modernism as well with the astonishing MUSAC, Museum of Contemporary Arts. Winning international recognition for its innovative construction, exemplified by the exterior's thousands of bold multi-colored stained glass panels; the avant-garde museum houses pieces by the latest generation of artists only.

Colorful festivities are a part of everyday life in the city. In the week before Easter, numerous processions run through the city, with particular importance attached to the symbolic Procession of Meeting on the esplanade in front of the city's Cathedral. The convivial atmosphere is amplified during the San Pedro & San Juan festivals in June. Packed crowds are treated to a brilliant fireworks display & numerous cultural festivities. One can always slip for a drink & some magnificent food to the Plaza de San Martin in Barrio Humedo, renowned nationwide for its bars & clubs. Leon has all that is attached with a terrific tourist destination: great drinks, festivals that never cease, historical masterpieces, & a dash of modern architecture to top it off. A ticket is in order for all those willing to sample the wonders, & willing to drown into the quintessential Spanish way of life.