Welcome to the Camino de Santiago on Wheels with Fresco Tours! To kick off our trip, we will start off with an orientation meeting, where you will meet your tour guides, learn about the next 7 days, and get fitted on your bikes.
Afterwards, it is time to explore León, a city that boasts what many consider to be Spain’s most perfect example of a Gothic cathedral. As our local art historian explains, Santa María de Regla is one of a kind – its claim to fame is the 1,800 square meters (20,000 square feet) of medieval stained-glass windows. This spectacular work of art can’t be missed and is a fantastic start to our journey.
As you will learn while taking in its beauty, the current Gothic cathedral has a fascinating history. Started in 1205 (13th century), it replaced the previous Romanesque cathedral, which replaced the original Christian church built here during the Reconquista. The Gothic construction was finally completed at the end of the 15th century, when the majority of the fabulous stained-glass windows were installed.
In 1868, the cathedral underwent significant restoration to preserve its original Gothic style. During the Spanish Civil War, León avoided being bombed because it sided with fascist forces early on. This saved the cathedral and its remarkable stained-glass windows from damage, so that we can enjoy them today.
We finish the day with a fabulous dinner to prepare for our first day of cycling tomorrow!
