International Lodging Corporation

Where Amazing Travel Experiences Begin

Checking In…Parador de León (Spain)

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This 5-star, 16th century monastery-hospital is one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in all of Spain. The past is preserved in the cloister, church, choir and the chapterhouse, while the present can be seen in the careful renovation work and fine antiques found throughout.

  • Address: Plaza de San Marcos, 7
  • Visit the medieval town, 13th C. Cathedral, Basilica San Isidoro, Panteon, Tesoro
  • 43 km to Valporquero caves
  • 50 km to Castrillo de los Polvazares
  • Parador de Benavente (70 km SW)
  • Parador de Villafranca del Bierzo (131 km W)
  • Parador de Cervera de Pisuerga (133 km NE)
  • Parador de Zamora (135 km SW)
  • Parador de Gijón (145 km N)
  • Parador de Tordesillas (152 km SE)
  • Train station: 1 km
  • Airport: 6 km

All rooms with private bath, air conditioning, direct dial telephone, WiFi, hair dryer, satellite TV, minibar, room safe

  • Elevator
  • Restaurant
  • Bar
  • Meeting Facilities to 700 ~ Audiovisual equipment
  • Activities nearby: Horseback riding, Alpine skiing, Indoor football, Tennis, Basketball, Handball, Hunting, Trout fishing, Speedboats, Golf
  • Reception
  • Parking
  • 200 guest rooms (5 floors)
  • Standard: A standard hotel room (3 guest maximum)
  • Superior: A superior room (3 guest maximum)
  • Superior Plus: A superior room (2 guest maximum)
  • Junior Suite: Larger room with sitting area (3 guest maximum)
  • Suite: Larger room with sitting area (3 guest maximum)
  • Hotel offers some handicap room (Standard category)

For more information, pricing and reservations, contact us – click here.

Sample Itineraries: Discover Northern Spain – Santiago to San Sebastián

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ILC-blog-Itinerary-Suggestions-Northern-SpainIf you’re like a lot of people who visit Spain, you’ll fall in love with its many treasures – the people, the culture, the history, the food – and you’ll want to start planning your return visit as soon as you get home.

If you’ve already visited the most common cities for first time visitors (e.g. Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Granada, etc.) and are looking for a new part of the country to explore, then check-out this itinerary and discover the treasures found in the northern part of the country in Santiago, León, Burgos, Bilbao and San Sebastián.

The itinerary begins in Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia, located in the northwest corner of Spain. Santiago is best known as the destination point for millions of pilgrims who follow the Way of St. James and visit the stunning cathedral that contains what is believed to be the remains of the Apostle St. James.

Following the Way of St. James, the next stop on the itinerary is the city of León, best known for its 13th C. cathedral with beautiful stained-glass windows. You can also visit the modern art museum MUSAC (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León), which opened in 2005.

The itinerary continues along the path of the pilgrimage with a stop in Burgos, considered the “cradle of Castile” and home to Spain’s national hero, El Cid. He is buried in the cathedral of Burgos, which together with the cathedrals in Santiago and León, represent the 3 most important cathedrals on the Way of St. James.

After Burgos the itinerary veers of the pilgrimage trail and heads north to Bilbao. This industrial port city was not always a popular tourist destination, but all of that changed in 1997 when the Guggenheim Museum opened. The building, which itself can be considered a piece of art, is made of curved titanium walls and was designed by famed architect Frank Gehry.

The last stop on the itinerary is the waterfront city of San Sebastián. Located on the north coast overlooking the Bay of Biscay, San Sebastián is a cosmopolitan city with beautiful beaches and a seaside promenade that attracts many visitors in the summer. Besides being known for its beauty, San Sebastián is also considered a mecca for foodies. Its Basque cuisine is heralded the world over, as evidenced by the fact that it has one of the highest concentrations of Michelin star restaurants in the world.

  • Day 1: Arrive in Santiago; afternoon sightseeing in the city
  • Day 2: Sightseeing in Santiago
  • Day 3: Drive to León (334 km); afternoon sightseeing in the city
  • Day 4: Drive to Burgos (201 km); afternoon sightseeing in the city
  • Day 5: Drive to Bilbao (158 km); afternoon sightseeing in the city
  • Day 6: Visit the Guggenheim and Fine Arts Museums
  • Day 7: Drive to San Sebastián (119 km); afternoon sightseeing in the city
  • Day 8: Depart San Sebastián to return home

Information on what to see and do, and where to eat can be found on our website, click here. Simply search by city.

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.

Sites to See…MUSAC: Castile and León Museum of Contemporary Art (Spain)

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The Castile and León Museum of Contemporary Art (aka MUSAC) is one of the most unique buildings in León, Spain, and that’s really saying something. Based on a cuboid design by architects Emilio Muñón and Luis Moreno, this 21,000 sq. meter marvel explores meeting points between art and architecture through a contemporary viewpoint.

The building’s large exhibition area is home to a truly diverse selection of art and architecture projects in different mediums. Pay a visit soon and you’ll encounter an exhibit called Primer Proforma 2010 – an experiment that displays how space can be altered as the result of an artistic experience. To do this, a group of artists and 15 volunteers will mix painting, sculpture, performance and other mediums in an ever-changing display that honors creative practice. For more information on the museum, click here.

Photo credit: MUSAC

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.