pain’s largest region, Castile and León, boasts some of the country's finest architectural heritage. Hundreds of castles, churches and palaces await you here, as well as 12 cathedrals and one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious universities, all within an autonomous community that includes eight UNESCOWorld Heritage sites. In combination with Galicia you also have the core of the legendary ‘Camino Frances’, the ancient pilgrimage route from France to Santiago de Compostela, a magical pathway of spiritual discovery that was the Christian equivalent of the journey to Mecca, but which today is one of the most rewarding sightseeing routes across the Iberian Peninsula. The region is situated on the northern part of the Meseta Central (a great plateau in the centre of Spain) and the countryside consists of miles of flat arable land. Another striking feature of the region’s geography is its location by the River Duero, providing perfect conditions for vineyards. One of the region’s wines, Ribera del Duero, is held in high regard and said by many to be a more than valid rival to the country’s more well-known Rioja. The kingdom of Castile as it was formally known has a very important place in Spanish history and the formation of modern Spain. It is in this region that the language we now call Spanish originated and it is from here that the Catholic Kings, Ferdinand and Isabella, sought to unify Spain when they launched the re-conquest of the country from the rule of the Moors. Castile & Leon’s history can be seen in the wealth of medieval castles, cities, churches and cathedrals that can be found here. It is also here that Spain’s most renowned university can be found, in Salamanca. castilla y león & galicia s As Alfred the Great andWilliamWallace are renowned as legendary saviours of England and Scotland respectively so too is ‘El Campiador’ (champion) of Spain, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (1043-1099,) a son of Burgos, who fought splendid campaigns for both Christian andMoorishmasters, but ultimately rode into immortality with his famous conquest of the Moorish Taifa of Valencia during the ‘reconquista’, the Christian reconquest of Spain. His story ended famously after dying before battle was ended, but strapped to his horse his dead body inspired his army to defeat the opposition, who fled in dismay on sight of his galloping steed. He is buried in Burgos Cathedral alongside his wife, the Lady Jemima. The legend of el cid Vallladolid Santiago de Compostela A Coruña Lugo Ourense Pontevedra León Palencia Burgos Soria Segovia Ávila Salamanca Zamora Q Q Q Q 22
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