Astorga

About

Astorga was founded by the Romans in 14 BC, and relics of their empire have been collected in a theme park where sections of a basilica, baths, mansions and part of the sewerage system are exhibited. During the Middle Ages, the city was an important stopping point for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Passing through the Puerta del Sol, the fortified area is dominated by the Cathedral, which took 200 years to complete. As such, its art and architecture exhibits Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements. To commemorate the city’s important role for pilgrims, the Bishops Palace, a Neogothic work by Antoni Gaudí, now houses the Pilgrimage Museum where visitors will find religious artifacts from around the 11th-17th centuries. In 1528, after Hernán Cortés brought Cacaoback to Spain, Astorga became the birthplace of European chocolate. The Chocolate Museum exhibits the evolution of chocolate production, and lets visitors sample chocolate from around the world.