Astorga, Spain
Astorga is a town in north-western central Spain in the province of León in the autonomous community of Castile -Leon. You being the bishop of the diocese of Astorga, one of the largest dioceses in Spain.
Geography
Astorga is located about 50 km southwest of the provincial capital of León at a height of 868 m at the foot of the Montes de León, reach in Teleno, 20 km west of the city, 2188 m above sea level. Astorga is the capital of the district Maragatería. Through the town of Río Tuerto flows. Historically, Astorga developed at the intersection of important routes, the most important as a Way of St. James / Camino Francés (east-west ) and Vía de la Plata (North-South ) are known.
History
The place came with the subjugation of the Celtiberian Asturians by the Romans in 17 BC to the Roman Empire; The Romans called the place Asturica Augusta and stationed here temporarily a legion. They made it to the main administrative center in western Spain and exploited from here the gold mines in the Montes de León, Bierzo (Las Médulas ) from. With the diminishing gold income and the Roman Astorga went down. In the migration period, the city was Visigothic, the population was converted to Christianity. Beginning of the 8th century was also Astorga, as the majority of the Iberian Peninsula, conquered by the Moors, but already succeeded Alfonso I, King of Asturias, taking the city as part of the Reconquista in the year 753. To 850 a bishopric was established again and with the increasing popularity of the pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela has also benefited from its location on the Santiago Astorga.
Attractions
The main landmarks are completed after twenty years of interruption of Guereta the Cathedral of Santa Maria from the 8th century and the neo-Gothic Episcopal Palace of Antoni Gaudí, commenced in 1889 and 1913. Today it houses the Museum of the ways Museo de los Caminos. The town hall is housed in a palace of the 17th century. At the town hall clock strike two figures in the local costume of the Maragatos hours. As evidence of the Roman era, a partially excavated Roman villa, parts of the city wall, called the workhouse Ergastula in the Museo Romanum, the partial excavation of the Roman Forum, Temple of Augustus Aedes Augusti, the thermal baths and the drains can be visited (the latter three with advance notification of the Oficina de Turismo ).
" Schmeckenswürdigkeiten "
Astorga is a long tradition of confectionery. Because of the low yield of the stony fields in the Maragatería many residents of this area made their living as teamsters. Favored by Astorga was situated on the road between Madrid and the Galician ports from which goods from the colonies were transported to the capital. In this way Astorga came with cocoa and sugar in touch. The town soon developed confectionery manufacturers who were no longer competitive with the onset of industrialization. However Astorga is still famous for its
- Chocolate manufactured in many variations,
- Hojaldres, a puff pastry and
- Mantecado, a fine butter donuts.
The Chocolate Museum Museo de Chocolate you can learn about their history in Astorga and try different chocolates. Hojaldres Mantecado and are offered in many bakeries and shops.