Leon

Monday 9th June 2014

This part of Northern Spain was under the Romans from the 1st century BC. Founded by the Roman Legion - Legio Victrix VI who served under Ceaser Augustus in the Cantabrian Wars against the Astures and Cantabri - its modern name, Leon, is derived from the Latin name, Legio. The Romans built this town to protect the region as it is rich in mineral resources like gold and iron ores.

Post-Roman period saw the city being attacked by the Visigoths until it finally being conquered by Leovigild in 586 AD. During the Ummayad Conquest of Spain Tariq ibn Ziad managed to reach this regions and populated the city with Berbers and  Mozarabs ( Christians who did not flee but lived under the rule of Muslims ). But when the Berbers revolted against the Arabs ( due to the poor treatment they received from the Arab commanders) - the Asturians took advantage of the situation and reconquered Leon and made it their capital and from where the Reconquesta was planned and executed.

The train ride from Ponferrada to Leon was a short one and we were again taken by taxis to our hotel in the centre of the Old Quarter of Leon within the perimeters of the Roman walls of the city.