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| A walk around Astorga | |
 Astorga is situated in a crossroad, Pilgrim´s road to Santiago de Compostela and Vía de la Plata (The Silver Way). It is an important nucleus of communication, 120 National Road and VI National through Madrid-La Coruña motorway.
To get to know Astorga implies a walk around its streets, designed between the Roman Empire and the Middle Age. The Roman Asturica Augusta was a town surrounded by a wall which was rebuilt several times. Nowadays an important part of this original Roman wall is preserved, as well as some of its entries: Puerta del Sol and Postigo, through which pilgrims got into the town; Puerta del Rey, la Romana and Puerta Obispo, by which pilgrims got out of the town to go on their way to Santiago. The route can be started in Puerta Romana or del Hierro. There is the Aljibe, of Roman origin. It was also used in the Middle Age to store and distribute water to the town. The Cathedral from XV-XVIII th. C. was rebuilt over a Romanesque one. It´s made stand out its Bishop´s Renaissance front, the main front altarpiece (made by Gaspar Becerra), the choir-stalls (X th.C.) and the Cathedral museum wich keeps more than 500 pieces. Very near to the Cathedral, it is Saint Martha´s church. Saint Martha is the Patron Saint of Astorga. There is the Gaudi´s Palace as well, which is nowadays the Paths Museum. Walking towards the Town Hall it is the Chocolate Museum, which is an alive reminiscence of an industry that was on top form in the XVIII th and XIX th.C. After crossing Santocildes Square, we get into the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), which is a typical Spanish square where the Town Hall is (built by Manuel de Lastra). A couple of Maragatos dolls call the attention, Juan Zancuda and Colasa, which have struck the time since 1748. Near the Town Hall there is the Roman Museum, the Ergastula and an old Roman house called Domus of the Bear and the Birds. After a rest in the Sinagoga´s Gardens, called like that in memory of an ancient Jewish temple that was there, we start a walk along the Roman wall from which we can admire the astonishing sight of Teleno Mountain. Then, we get to the Major Seminary with an interesting neoclassic chapel from the XI th.C. inside. To wander through the streets in Astorga is always exciting. In any place we can meet a pleasant surprise; Saint Bartholomew´s Church, Saint Andrew´s; Fatima´s Sanctuary; Saint Francis Convent, Saint Esteban´s Chapel, Panero´s House... ROMAN ROUTE A guided visit through the town, organised by the Turism Office with an appointmen in advance to the telephone 0034987618222, allows an approximation to the past of the town. Departing from Puerta Romana, we meet the Termas Mayores and the Termas Menores, the Forum, the Ergastula, the ancient drains, the double defensive ditch, a part of the first wall and one of the oldest houses belonging to wealthy Roman families. CUISINE In our Bar Tavern Los Hornos, you can taste the delightful traditional cuisine: corned beef, tapas of octopus and sweetbreads, minced spicy meat, embutido (cold meats), black pudding with scrambled eggs... But undoubtedly, the most important and typical meal of the area is the Maragato Stew. It has nine different kind of meats, chickpeas, vegetables and a delicious soup. The Maragatos are in the habit of eating this stew on the other way round. That means they start eating the meat, to follow by the chickpeas and vegetables and to end by the soup. As a dessert it can´t be lacking the famous "mantecadas" (small cake), "hojaldres" (puff pastry), chocolate and "natillas maragatas" (custards). FESTIVALS Already at the height of Lent, Astorga has its Carnival Piñata´s Saturday. During Easter -declared of Regional touristic interest- seven fraternities go out to the streets to celebrate a total of fourteen processions from Friday to Easter Sunday. At the end of August, Astorga celebrates its Major Festivals in Saint Martha´s honour, the Patron Saint of the town. These Festivals have as their main performance the Asturica Augusta Roman Circus, with gladiators, Roman chariots, catapults... and above all, abundance of creativeness and much fun. The so-called Long Night anounces the end of the festivals. The Zuiza is a civic-religious procession that commemorates the victory of the Clavijo´s Battle by which the Kingdom of León was free of the payment of a shameful tribute of Hundred Maids to the Muslims. Every three years, EXPO-ASTORGA is celebrated, that is an exhibition of the economic life in the town.
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