Castilla & Leon is the largest region in Spain located between the north of Madrid, Portugal, Aragon and the Costa Verde. Many visitors approach this region from Madrid and its International Airport as many of the major cities in the region can be reached from motorways leaving the capital of Spain. However, good road access can also be found from the North coast via roads to Burgos and Leon. In total, Castilla Leon has nine provinces that are Avila, Burgos, Leon, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid and Zamora.

Castilla Leon Holiday Attractions

The main attraction for visitors to the region of Castilla Leon is the high number of historical buildings, many in near perfect condition, that have been left as a result of the many conquests by the Romans, Celts and the Moors. Many of the major cities boast some of the best cathedrals, churches and castles found not only in Spain but also in Europe for architectural design. Castilla is the land of castles and they can be found in virtually every corner of the region.

Avila

Avila is Spain's highest provincial capital and it is also entirely enclosed by the most complete set of medieval walls in Europe. With a total of 88 towers and 9 gateways, the walls stretch for a total of 2km in length. In Spanish, the walls are called Las Murallas and were originally built by the Christian Knights after the re-conquest of the city from the Moorish settlers.

Burgos

The Gothic Cathedral in Burgos is the city's most splendid sight and is the third largest in Spain behind those in Seville and Toledo. Founded in 1221, the cathedral's construction continued over 300 years involving some of the best architects in Europe. As well as being a fantastic example of gothic architecture, it is also one of the main stopovers for Pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela where according to legend, the body of Saint James; one of Christ's apostles was discovered in the year of 813.

Leon

Leon is a cosmopolitan city with a relaxing ambiance that makes it ideal for visitors to Spain who wish to see a wonderful mix of the historic and modern. The Gothic Cathedral in the centre of the city began construction in the 13th century and is one of the finest in Europe. Some of its outstanding features include 700 panes of stained glass used in its construction, and an unusual design of mismatched towers.

Salamanca

The city of Salamanca is probably best known for its University, which was founded in the 13th century and is the oldest in Spain. At any time of day you can see hundreds of students wandering around this wonderful ancient city and enjoying the many bars and restaurants well into the early hours. The best way to see Salamanca is on foot and the best place to start is the Plaza Mayor, which is one of the largest and best in Spain. The plaza is an 18th century baroque square, whose street level arcades, cafes and bars support 3 more storeys with the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) and Royal Pavilion at opposite ends to each other.

Segovia

There are two main features in Segovia that cannot be ignored as you enter the city. One is the two-tiered Roman Aqueduct that can be seen all across the city suburbs and is considered to be one of the finest in Europe. The other is the Alcazar, Segovia's fairytale royal castle, which stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking the city. It has everything a castle should have including spires, battlements and exquisite chambers. It is well worth climbing the 152 steps to the top of the castle for some excellent views over the whole city.

Valladolid

Valladolid is the capital of Castilla & Leon, and a city full of historic and cultural attractions including a cathedral, churches, sculptures and museums. There is plenty to see in Valladolid and also many castles to be found in the surrounding area.

Zamora

The great Cathedral of Zamora was built in the 12th Century and includes certain Gothic additions that were added at a later date. The roof of the cathedral is layered with curved stone tiles and modelled on the Haghia Sophia in Istanbul. Around the cathedral in the streets of Zamora are plenty of Romanesque churches to visit at leisure with many bars and restaurants nearby to admire their facades.

About the Author
Steve Greenwood invites you to visit  Castilla Leon Property Rentals for accommodation and attractions in Toledo, Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Guadalajara. Visit http://www.idealrentals4u.com for holidays and accommodation in all the regions of Spain including the Canary Islands Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Palma.

Madrid is a city almost without equal in Europe. If you need a break from it, you can take a day trip to Avila to catch a bit of fresh air and see some amazing sites.

Avila, Spain

Madrid has so much going on it is often hard to drag yourself away from. You will, however, eventually need a break. A day trip to Avila, a town near Madrid, is definitely worth a trip. In fact, a visit to Avila is a must if you visit Spain. The town is so popular, there are over 20 trains a day from Madrid.

Avila is in the south of Old Castile, part of the Castile and Leon autonomous district. The city was originally known for Teresa of Avila, a Roman Catholic mystic. The cathedral in the city is also considered a masterpiece. While this is no doubt fascinating to you, the real attraction of Avilla is the defensive fortification.

Were you addicted to the Lord of the Rings movies? Enjoy reading about Camelot? Have a thing for castles? You are going to love Avila. The town is home to the second largest defensive walls in the world. Known as Las Murallas, the walls were built in the eleventh century. They are a couple miles long and average 40 feet in height. The walls are partitioned by over 80 towers that reach as high as 65 feet, the equivalent of a six-story building. There are nine gates allowing you to enter and exit the town. All and all, the Avila Walls are a site to be seen.

The amazing thing about the walls is their condition. They are in a near perfect state. If you did not know better, you would swear they were built last week. Happily, you can tromp up and down the towers and walk across the top of the walls. Looking out over the area surrounding Avila, you get a definite feel for what it must have been like for a soldier to defend the city.

Keep in mind Avila is at a high elevation. It can be cold in the winter and blazing hot in the summer.

About the Author

Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals - makers of writing journals for travel. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com for more Internet travel articles on the walled city near Madrid.