18th Stage: from Reliegos to León
A day full of history for the pilgrim, during which he’ll see some of Spain’s most important Roman monuments. The eighteenth stage starts crossing Mansilla de las Mulas, a village with city walls and towers that was resettled by Fernando II in 1181. The village was of strategic importance during the Dark Ages, from which it inherited monuments like the Saint Martin Church (thirteenth century), restored in 1989 and today home to the Casa de Cultura of the town council; the Saint Mary Church, built in the eighteenth century on top of an earlier temple; the Saint Augustine Monastery (sixteenth century) and the hermitage of the Virgin de Gracia, various times restored.

After leaving this historical village over a stone bridge which crosses the Esla River, the walker takes up the Camino again, direction Villamoros. However, first he can leave the road to visit the San Miguel de la Escalade Monastery, a national monument in Mozarabic style, 16 km from Mansilla de las Mulas.

After Villamoros appears the Puente Villarente, a village you can access through the Twenty Eyes Bridge. Here you can see the sixteenth century Pilgrim Hospital. The journey continuous to Arcahueja and after that, the pilgrim reaches Valdelafuente, passing a modern cruise leaving the village. Then, descending the Portillo Top, the Camino arrives in Léon.

Léon amasses some of Spain’s most important historic-artistic monuments, like its Cathedral, a Gothic gem and a masterpiece of architecture. The building was erected between the thirteenth and fourteenth century and restored last century. Next to the Cathedral, there is the Roman Saint Isidoro Basilica (eleventh and twelfth century), where the Saint Isidoro of Seville tomb is kept; and the Saint Marcus Monastery, with its fantastic front in plateresque style

Other important buildings are the Saint Ana Church, built by Doña Urraca in the twelfth century, the Guzman Palace (sixteenth century), the Roman Saint Mary del Mercado Church (twelfth century), the Concepción Monastery (sixteenth century) and the Casa Botines, designed by Gaudi at the end of the nineteenth century. Léon also preserves antique Roman city walls which protected the city premises.