Originally the Parador de Leon was a monastery founded in the 12th-century to provide ‘lodging for the poor of Christ’, which was replaced by the current building in the 16th century.
This tour takes you on a historic journey through the verdant regions of Green Spain, where you can discover the highlights of Old Castile and rural Galicia, follow in the footsteps of the famous pilgrimage trail 'the Camino de Santiago', and stay in magnificent historic buildings known as Paradores.
Explore ancient cities such as Santiago de Compostela and see the rugged Galician coast along the way.
See the sights at a laid-back pace. On these tours you'll rarely spend more than three or four hours travelling a day and there will usually be a few days for you to simply stay put and relax. Typically, any walking during the excursions will be at a leisurely pace and will amount to just a few hours of the course of the day.
Continuing along the pilgrimage trail, you call at Villafranca del Bierzo, where in medieval times pilgrims who could not manage the final climb to Galicia were received at the Puerta del Perdón (Door of Forgiveness).
The town’s delightful setting by the Burbia River gives it the feel of an English Lake District resort and makes a pleasant stop before continuing to Vilalba, your base for the next two nights.
You stay at the 4-star Parador de Vilalba (4Q), formed around a medieval Galician tower, with a modern extension built in the style of a typical Galician palace.