Astorga

Astorga is a town in the Castile and León region of northern Spain, 43 km southwest of León city. It has a well-preserved old centre and is a stop-off on the pilgrimage route to Santiago. In 2021 the population was 10,600. == Understand == The Romans conquered this area by around 20 BC, mainly to lay hands on the gold mines to the west at Ponferrada, and they fortified every strategic position. Their military camp grew into a walled civilian city, and several sections of the wall remain standing. The town became a religious centre astride the pilgrimage route to Santiago, with its cathedral and churches gilded in Baroque style. Astorga industrialised in the 19th century when the railway arrived - chocolate was a major product – but this didn't spoil its historic centre. == Get in == === By road === Astorga is 332 km north-west of Madrid on A6, say 3 hr 30 min. This highway continues to La Coruna, branch off at Lugo for A54 to Santiago. === By bus === From Madrid Estación Sur is 5–6 hours via Valladolid, running every couple of hours, with two direct buses a day from Madrid-Barajas Airport T4. Buses from León run hourly and take an hour. Astorga bus station is 100 m north of the cathedral and palace. === By train === From Madrid-Charmartin you usually change at León. One train a day is direct, taking 3 hours via Segovia, Valladolid, Palencia, León and Veguellina, continuing to Ponferrada. One train a day is direct from Barcelona via Zaragoza, Pamplona, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Burgos and León, continuing to Ourense, Santiago de Compostela and La Coruna. 1 Astorga railway station is 1 km north-east of the town centre. === By pilgrimage === Camino de Santiago is a network of pilgrimage routes from various European cathedral cities, converging on Santiago de Compostela in north-eastern Spain. The local section of the French Way is from León via San Martín to Astorga, where it's joined by Vía de la Plata, the route from Mérida via Cáceres‎ and Salamanca. Together they continue west through Ponferrada. == Get around == The town is small and walkable. The taxi operator is Taxi Astorga (+34 639 427021). == See == A total solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 Aug 2026, starting at 20:28 and lasting 90 sec. The chances of a clear sky are 75%, but you need to find a spot with a clear view to the northwest horizon, where the sun will be setting. 1 Astorga Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María). Daily 10:00–18:00. The cathedral was built in fits and starts from 1471, so to its original Gothic design were added the neoclassical cloister, the Baroque towers and Renaissance portico and high altar. Adult €8, conc €7, child €6. (updated Nov 2024) Church of Santa Marta (next to the cathedral). The church gets overlooked. It was completed in 1741. 2 Bishop's Palace (Palacio Episcopal de Astorga), Plaza Eduardo de Castro 15 (next to the cathedral), ☏ +34 987 616882. Daily 10:30–14:00, 16:00–18:30. When the original palace burned down in the 19th century, Antoni Gaudí was commissioned to design its replacement, and work began in 1890. It's a pseudo-medieval (almost Disney) castle in grey granite, but unfinished at the death of its sponsoring bishop, whereupon Gaudí fell out with the town council and stomped off the job. Completed in 1915, it now hosts a museum about the pilgrimage route. Adult €6. (updated Nov 2024) House of Leopoldo Panero, Panero 9 (facing cathedral). Childhood home of the poet Panero (1909–1962), who started out as a Socialist but during the Civil War became a leading Falangist. Free. (updated Nov 2024) 3 Town hall (Ayuntamiento de Astorga) is a Baroque building of 1683 overlooking a shady plaza. Be there at midday to watch the bells clatter into life. 4 Roman Museum (La Ergastula), Plaza San Bartolomé 2 (50 m east of Town Hall), ☏ +34 987 616937. Tu–Sa 10:00–14:00, 16:00–18:00, Su 10:00–14:00. Exhibiting archaeological findings from Roman and Medieval times, in what may have been a Roman jail. Daily at 11:00 and 17:00 they lead a guided tour (for an extra €4) of Ruta Romano, of other remains around town such as the military camp, the sewers, two baths, forum and several mosaics. Adult €4. (updated Nov 2024) Church of St Bartholomew (100 m east of the Roman museum). Built as Romanesque but has a Baroque interior. The town council met here until the Ayuntamiento was built in 1683. Church of San Francisco, Padres Redentoristas 3 (100 m south of the museum). 19th century neo-Gothic style. 5 Church of Our Lady of Fátima on Plaza San Julián was founded in the 12th century but heavily restored in the 18th and 20th. Its austere facade contrasts with its Baroque interior. 6 Chocolate Museum, Av la Estación 16, ☏ +34 987 616220. Tu–Sa 10:30–14:00, 16:30–19:00, Su 10:30–16:00. Showing the city's chocolate-making from medieval times to the present, with old machinery. Signage is only in Spanish. Adult €4. (updated Nov 2024) == Do == == Buy == Alcampo is the main downtown supermarket, at the roundabout north side of the cathedral, open M-Sa 09:00-21:30. == Eat == Serrano, Portería 2 (200 m south-west of cathedral), ☏ +34 987 617866. Tu–Sa 13:30–22:30, Su 13:00–15:30. Great reviews for its classic Spanish cuisine, naturally including Serrano ham. (updated Nov 2024) Las Termas, Santiago 1 (200 m southeast of palace), ☏ +34 635 262773. W–Su 13:00–16:00. Splendid trad fare, such as cocido maragato stew. (updated Nov 2024) La Peseta (next to the Roman Museum). Good hotel restaurant. == Drink == Astorga is within the Tierra de León Denominación de Origen (DO). Most production is red wine from the Tempranillo grape. Cafe Kavafis (by the supermarket north of the cathedral). W–Su 18:00–02:00. (updated Jun 2025) == Sleep == 1 Hotel Spa Ciudad de Astorga, Los Citios 7, ☏ +34 987 603001. Central, but poor scores for service and value. Double (room only) €70. (updated Nov 2024) 2 Casa de Tepa, Santiago 2, ☏ +34 987 603299. Wonderful little hotel in an 18th-century ducal residence. Some street noise. B&B double €100. (updated Nov 2024) Hotel Gaudí, Plaza Eduardo de Castro 6 (100 m south of palace), ☏ +34 987 615654. Efficient stylish hotel. B&B double €90. (updated Nov 2024) Exe Astur Plaza, Plaza España 2, ☏ +34 987 617665. Pleasant chain hotel facing the town hall. B&B double €100. (updated Nov 2024) == Connect == As of Nov 2024 Astorga and its approach highways have 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from MasMovil, Movistar and Orange. == Go next == León has a rich cultural heritage. Ponferrada is set in a strange terrain eroded by ancient gold mining. Zamora has fine Romanesque architecture.