City of León
(In details)	(In details)
Province	León
Autonomous community	Castilla y León
Postal code	240xx
Coordinates  - Latitude:  - Longitude:	42°59' N 5º57' W
Altitude	838 m
Surface	39,20 km²
Distances	333 km to Madrid 134 km to Valladolid
Population	City: 136. A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. León is a province of northwestern Spain, in the northwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. An autonomous community is a first-level political division of the Kingdom of Spain, established in accordance with the Spanish Constitution. Castile and León (Castilla y León known formally as the Community of Castile and León is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain. A postal code (known in various countries as a post code, postcode, or ZIP code) is a series of letters and/or digits appended to a In Mathematics and its applications a coordinate system is a system for assigning an n - Tuple of Numbers or scalars to each point A minute is a Unit of measurement of Time or of Angle. The minute is a unit of Time equal to 1/60th of an Hour or 60 This is about the direction for other uses see North (disambiguation. This article refers to the cardinal direction for other uses see West (disambiguation. Altitude is the Elevation of a point or object from a known level or datum (plural data The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International In Mathematics, specifically in Topology, a surface is a Two-dimensional Manifold. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of Distance is a numerical description of how far apart objects are The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand ||-||} is an industrial city and it is a Municipality in north-central Spain, upon the Pisuerga River and within the Ribera del Duero wine-making region In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology 999 (2006) Urban area: 185. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 391 (2003)
Demonym	Sp. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place Leonés/Leonesa, legionense, legionés Leonese
Anthem	Himno a León
Local festivals	San Juan and San Pedro (24th June and 29th June) San Froilán (5th October)
Rivers	Bernesga Torío
Mayor (2007- )	Francisco Fernández (PSOE)
Local council website	Ayuntamiento de León

The city of León, located at 42. The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music (in Music theory and religious contexts or more generally a song (or composition of The Himno a León was composed by the musician Odón Alonso, director of the Orfeón Leonés in 1934 Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, commonly abbreviated by its Spanish initials PSOE ( P artido S ocialista O brero E spañol is 59°N latitude, 5. Latitude, usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter phi ( Φ) gives the location of a place on Earth (or other planetary body north or south of the 57°W longitude, is the capital of León province in the autonomous community of Castile and León, in northwest Spain. Longitude (ˈlɒndʒɪˌtjuːd or ˈlɒŋgɪˌtjuːd symbolized by the Greek character Lambda (λ is the east-west Geographic coordinate measurement León is a province of northwestern Spain, in the northwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. An autonomous community is a first-level political division of the Kingdom of Spain, established in accordance with the Spanish Constitution. Castile and León (Castilla y León known formally as the Community of Castile and León is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Its population of 136,985 (2006)^[1] makes it the largest municipality in the province, accounting for over one quarter^[2] of the province's population. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Its urban area population is calculated at 204,212 (2006). Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Kingdom of León 1.2 Later history 2 Monuments and places of interest 3 Folklore and customs 4 Government 5 Food 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

León is famous for its Gothic León Cathedral and many other monumental buildings, such as the Real Colegiata de San Isidoro (which holds the Royal Pantheon, a mausoleum in which medieval Kingdom of León's royal family were buried, and also has one of the world's best collections of Romanesque paintings); Casa de Botines (an early work of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, nowadays occupied by a bank); San Marcos (originally the Military Order of Santiago's home, built in the 16th century); or the new MUSAC, the Castile and León Museum of Contemporary Art. Santa María de León Cathedral, also called The House of Light or the Pulchra Leonina is situated in the city of León in north-west See also Gothic art Gothic architecture is a style of Architecture which flourished during the high and late medieval period. Santa María de León Cathedral, also called The House of Light or the Pulchra Leonina is situated in the city of León in north-west The Basilica of San Isidoro of Leon stands on land which was once a Roman temple A mausoleum ( plural: mausolea is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. Romanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century or later depending on region Casa de los Botines (built 1892 - 1894) is a modernist building set in León Spain designed by Antonio Gaudí. A banker or bank is a Financial institution whose primary activity is to act as a payment agent for customers and to borrow and lend money San Marcos is a former Monastery and Hospital in the city of León, Spain. The MUSAC is the Castile and León Museum of Contemporary Art, which is in the city of León, Spain. León is also known for its "fiestas", like Easter. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. Leonese processions are declared to be of International Interest and, on those days, many people from all over the world visit León to see and participate in its traditions.

History

León was founded in the 1st century BC by the Roman legion Legio VI Victrix. Year 1 BC was a Leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. For other uses see Legion The Roman Legion (from Latin legio "military levy Conscription," Legio VI Victrix (Victorious was a Roman legion founded by Octavian in 41 BC. In 68 CE Legio VII Gemina created a permanent military camp, which was the origin of a later city. Year 68 was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Legio VII Gemina ( Twin) was a Roman legion; its full name was Legio VII Gemina Felix. Its modern name is derived from the city's Latin the name. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. . . Legio VII Gemina (Itin. Ant. p. The Antonine Itinerary (in Latin: Antonini Itinerarium) is a register of the stations and distances along the various roads of the Roman empire, containing 395; Λεγίων ζ Γερμανική, Ptol. ii. Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca 6. § 30), from the Roman legion recruited by Galba from Iberians, which established the site of the city to protect the territory from the wild mountaineers of Asturias and Cantabria, and to secure the transport of gold extracted in the province, especially in Las Médulas. For other uses see Legion The Roman Legion (from Latin legio "military levy Conscription," Servius Sulpicius Galba ( December 24, 3 BC &ndash January 15, 69) also called Servius Sulpicius Galba Caesar The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources (among others Hecataeus of Miletus, Avienus, Herodot and Strabo The Principality of Asturias ( Spanish: Principado de Asturias, Asturian: Principáu d'Asturies or Asturies) is an Cantabria is a Spanish province and Autonomous community with Santander as its capital city Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 Las Médulas, located near the town of Ponferrada in León province, Spain, used to be the most important Gold mine in the Roman (Dion Cass. iv. Lucius Cassius Dio Cocceianus ( Greek:) (c 155 or 163/164 to after 229 known in English as Cassius Dio, Dio Cassius, or Dio was 24; Tac. Hist. Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (ca 56 &ndash ca 117 was a senator and a Historian of the Roman Empire. ii. 11, iii. 25; Suet. Galba, 10. Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius (ca 69/75 &ndash after 130 was an equestrian and a historian during the Roman Empire. ) Tacitus calls the legion Galbiana, to distinguish it from the old Legio VII Claudia, but this appellation is not found on any inscriptions. Legio VII Claudia Pia Fidelis ( faithful and loyal Claudian legion) was a Roman legion. It appears to have received the appellation of Gemina (respecting the use of which, and Gemella, see Caesar B. C. iii. 3) on account of its amalgamation by Vespasian with one of the German legions, not improbably the Legio I Germanica Its full name was Legio VII Gemina Felix. Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Vespasian ( November 17 9 &ndash June 23 79) was a Roman Emperor who Legio I Germanica, (Latin pronunciation prima germánica) the Germanic first legion, was a Roman legion, possibly levied in 48 BC After serving in Pannonia, and in the civil wars, it was settled by Vespasian in Hispania Tarraconensis, to supply the place of the Legio VI Victrix and Legio X Gemina, two of the three legions ordinarily stationed in the province, but which had been withdrawn to Germany. Legio X Gemina, the twin legion, was one of the four legions used by Julius Caesar in 58 BC, for his invasion of Gaul. (Tac. Hist. ii. 11, 67, 86, iii. 7, 10, 21--25, iv. 39; Inscr. ap. Gruter, p. 245, no. 2. )

That its regular winter quarters, under later emperors, were at León, we learn from the Itinerary, Ptolemy, and the Notitiae Imperii, as well as from a few inscriptions (Muratori, p. 2037, no. 8, A. D. 130; p. 335, nos. 2, 3, A. D. 163; p. 336, no. 3, A. D. 167; Gruter, p. 260, no. 1, A. D. 216); but there are numerous inscriptions to prove that a strong detachment of it was stationed at Tarraco (modern Tarragona), the chief city of the province. Tarragona (tərəˈɣonə in Catalan) is a city located in the south of Catalonia and east of Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea.

Kingdom of León

The post-Roman history of the city is largely the history of the Kingdom of Leon. Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. The station of the legion in Asturias grew into an important city, which resisted the attacks of the Visigoths till A. The Visigoths (Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, or Wisi were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East D. 586, when it was taken by Leovigild; and it was one of the few cities which the Visigoths allowed to retain their fortifications. Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Vlachs are first mentioned in a Byzantine chronicle Liuvigild, Leuvigild, Leovigild, or Leogild was Visigothic King of Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula) from 569 During the struggle with the Muslim invaders, the same fortress, which the Romans had built to protect the plain from the incursions of the mountaineers, became the advanced post which covered the mountain, as the last refuge of Spanish independence. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion After yielding to the first assault of the Moors, in 712, it was recovered was restored by Ordoño I of Asturias around 850. Events By Place Europe Ansprand succeeds Aripert as king of the Lombards. Ordoño I ( أردون بن إذفنش ( Urdūn ibn Iḍfunš: Ordoño of the Beni Alfons) 831– 27 May 866) became Events By Place Asia Emperor Montoku succeeds Emperor Nimmyō as Emperor of Japan.

Towards the year 846, a group of Mozarabs (Christian Spaniards who did not flee for the Muslims and lived under the Muslim regime) tried to repopulate the city, but a Muslim attack prevented that initiative. Events By Place Europe Nominoe occupies Nantes and Rennes, he makes raids in Anjou and threatens Bayeux In the year 856, under the Christian king Ordoño I, another attempt at repopulation was made and was successful. Events By Place Asia The Year of the Fire Rat (Chinese Zodiac begins in January Ordoño II made León the capital of his Kingdom of León (914) and the most important of the Christian cities in Iberia. Ordoño II ( أردون بن إذفنش ( Urdūn ibn Iḍfunš) (c This article is about the year 914 For the automobile see Porsche 914. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth

Sacked by Almanzor in about 987, the city was reconstructed and repopulated by Alfonso V, whose Decree of 1017 regulated its economic life, including the functioning of its markets. Events By Place Europe Hugh Capet, Count of Paris, is crowned King of France. Alfonso V (994-1028 called the Noble, King of León, son of Bermudo II by his second wife Elvira García of Castile, reigned from 999 León was a way-station for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago leading to Santiago de Compostela. A pilgrim is one who undertakes a Pilgrimage, literally 'far afield' The Way of St James or St James' Way ( Galician O camiño de Santiago, Spanish name El Camino de Santiago) Santiago de Compostela (also Saint James of Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia and a UNESCO World Suburbs for traders and artisans sprang up, who, after the 13th century, began to influence the municipal government. South San Jose (cropjpg||thumb|A suburban development in San Jose California. During the early Middle Ages, the livestock industry produced a period of prosperity for the city. Livestock is the term used to refer (singularly or plurally to a Domesticated Animal intentionally reared in an agricultural setting to produce such as Food

Later history

In the 16th century, economic and demographic decline set in and continued until the 19th century. Demography is the statistical study of all Populations. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic population that is one that changes over The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar In July 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, León joined the war against the Republicans. Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict in Spain that started after an attempted Coup d'état committed by parts of the army against the government of

During the 1960s, León experienced much growth due to in-migration from the rural zones of the province.

In 1983 León was added to the neighbouring region of Castile, to form the Autonomous Community of Castile and León. A former kingdom, Castile (Castilla kasˈt̪iʎa or) gradually merged with its neighbors to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain An autonomous community is a first-level political division of the Kingdom of Spain, established in accordance with the Spanish Constitution. Castile and León (Castilla y León known formally as the Community of Castile and León is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain. A minor popular and local political movement was opposed to being ruled from. Consequently, León is the centre of a minor, peaceful political movement for Leonese autonomy. Some of leonese people support the idea of creating a Léonese autonomous community formed by the provinces of Salamanca, León and Zamora, which have traditionally composed the Leonese Region. An autonomous community is a first-level political division of the Kingdom of Spain, established in accordance with the Spanish Constitution. In addition to its autonomous communities, Spain is divided into fifty Provinces. Geography The city lies on a mountain by the Tormes River which is crossed by a bridge 150 m long built on 26 arches fifteen of which are of Roman origin, while León is a province of northwestern Spain, in the northwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. Zamora is a Spanish province of western Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Castile and Leon.

Monuments and places of interest

León possesses many impressive monuments, from outstanding mediaeval to avant-garde modern buildings. Medieval architecture is a term used to represent various forms of Architecture popular in Medieval Europe. The most notable monuments are the Rayonnant gothic Cathedral, with its excellent stain glassed windows, the Basilica of San Isidoro, with its tombs of the Kings of León and fine Romanesque paintings, and the old monastery of San Marcos (currently a luxurious parador) with an exuberant plateresque façade. See also Gothic art Gothic architecture is a style of Architecture which flourished during the high and late medieval period. Santa María de León Cathedral, also called The House of Light or the Pulchra Leonina is situated in the city of León in north-west For the Blackford Oakes novel see Stained Glass (novel The term stained glass refers either to the material of coloured Glass or to the art The Basilica of San Isidoro of Leon stands on land which was once a Roman temple Parador, in Spain and other Spanish -speaking countries is a kind of luxury Hotel, usually located in historic Buildings such as Plateresque refers to the 15th and 16th century Art form in Spain, characterized by an ornate style of architecture

The Palacio de los Guzmanes, the site of the provincial diputación (parliament), contains an impressive patio in the plateresque style by Gil de Hontañón. Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón, ( Rascafría, Segovia, 1500 - 1500 - Segovia 1577) Spanish renacentist architect. The old quarter of the city conserves a large part of the medieval wall and some remains of the original Roman wall. One can also find the Casa de Botines, a neogothic styled building and an excellent example of the architecture of Antoni Gaudí. Casa de los Botines (built 1892 - 1894) is a modernist building set in León Spain designed by Antonio Gaudí.

León is the headquarters of the MUSAC - Castile and León Museum of Contemporary Art. The MUSAC is the Castile and León Museum of Contemporary Art, which is in the city of León, Spain. Its building has an impressive modernist structure designed by the architectural team of Mansilla & Tuñón. One of the building's most distinctive features is its facade formed out of thousands of large stained-glass panels. The nearby León Auditorium, also by Mansilla & Tuñón, has an equally striking presence of crisp white cubes perforated by irregularly set windows.

Other points of interest include the Barrio Humedo (the drinking and partying area) and the Plaza del Grano. Barrio Húmedo is the nickname given to an old part of the city of León, Spain, that is concentrated within the largely intact Roman city walls

Folklore and customs

Among the Leonese customs, Semana Santa (Easter), during which there are numerous processions through the centre of the city, stands out. Casa de los Botines (built 1892 - 1894) is a modernist building set in León Spain designed by Antonio Gaudí. Holy Week ( Latin: Hebdomada Sancta or Maior Hebdomada, "Greater Week" in Christianity is the last week before Easter. One of the most beautiful is the so called Procession of the Meeting which acts out the meeting of three groups representing Saint John, the Virgin Mary and Christ in the explanade in front of the Cathedral. Associated with Semana Santa is the pagan procession for the burial of Genarín, a poor person run over by the first rubbish truck in León. The procession consists of a march through the city with Orujo (an alcoholic drink) at the head of the procession to the front of the city walls where the man was supposedly run over and then leaving cheese, a bottle of Orujo and two oranges at the spot. Orujo as liquour distilled from wine grapes ("Augardente" Orujo is a liquor obtained from the distillation of the Pomace (solid remains

It is also remarkable San Juan & San Pedro festivity, celebrated during the last week of June. During these days several concerts and festivals take place and the whole town is occupied by terraces and street markets where Leonese people celebrates the beginning of the summer, specially on San Juan´s night (23 of June) when everyone goes out to enjoy the beautiful fireworks and bonfires.

Government

In the last municipal elections (27 of May 2007) the results were:

• Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) (44. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, commonly abbreviated by its Spanish initials PSOE ( P artido S ocialista O brero E spañol is 14% of the votes and council seatsand 13 seats)
• Partido Popular (37. The People's Party ( Spanish: Partido Popular, PP) is the main right Political party in Spain. 55% votes and 11 seats)
• Unión del Pueblo Leonés (10. Leonese People's Union (in Spanish: Unión del Pueblo Leonés) is a regional Political party in Castilla y León, Spain. 88% and 3 councillors)
• PAL-UL (2. 38%)

Currently the mayor is Francisco Fernández from the PSOE. Francisco Fernández may refer to Francisco Javier Fernández (born 1977 Spanish race walker Francisco Fernández Ordóñez (1930-1992 The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, commonly abbreviated by its Spanish initials PSOE ( P artido S ocialista O brero E spañol is

Food

Within the wide range of Leonese cuisine the following dishes are the most representative: cecina (cured, smoked beef), morcilla (a superb variant of blood sausage), botillo (a dish of meat-stuffed pork intestine), garlic soup, el cocido leonés (a mix of meat with vegetables and chickpeas, served after a vegetable-vermicelli soup) and mantecadas (a sweet). Castilian-Leonese cuisine refers to the typical dishes and ingredients of the region of Castile and Leon in Spain In Spanish cecina means "meat that has been salted and dried by means of air sun or smoke" Black pudding or (less often blood pudding is a British English term for Sausage made by cooking blood with a filler until it is thick enough to congeal Botillo ( Spanish) Botelo ( Portuguese) or Butiellu ( Leonese) is a dish of meat-stuffed Pork Intestine. Cozido or cocido is one of the traditional dishes of Spanish and Portuguese cuisine. Another very important part of the gastronomy of León are the tapas that you can get in most of the many bars in the city. For the spritual concept see Tapas (Sanskrit; for the Spanish film see Tapas (film. The most important thing about these tapas is that they are free unlike in most cities in Spain. For the spritual concept see Tapas (Sanskrit; for the Spanish film see Tapas (film. It is a very common thing to do to go "de tapas" or "tapear" i. e. to go for a few drinks ("un corto", which is a very small beer, "una caña", which is roughly half a pint of beer or "un vino," a glass of wine) just before lunch but more normally as a light form of dinner.

See also

• Kingdom of León
• Leon (province)
• List of municipalities in León
• Castile and León

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography by William Smith (1856). The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone The Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, first published in 1854, was the last of a series of classical dictionaries edited by the English scholar Sir William Smith (1813 &ndash 1893 English Lexicographer, was born at Enfield in 1813 of Nonconformist parents

External links

• León City Council (in Spanish)
• Leon.es Tourism in León. Official Web Site (in English and Spanish)
• Tourism in León (in Spanish)
• León, northwest of Madrid...
• Leon on the Camino de Santiago
• Photos of the city of Léon
• Paradoxplace León Photo Pages
• Rural Tourism in León (in Spanish)

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