León - Monasterio de San Marcos

On the northwest side of León, on the banks of the Río Bernesga, is the former monastery of San Marcos, now a luxurious parador. The main (south) front, over 100m/330ft long, is unsurpassed in the richness and delicacy of its Plateresque decoration. The eastern half was built between 1533 and 1541, the western half, with the doorway and the tower, between 1708 and 1716. Over the main entrance is a Baroque figure of Santiago (St James) in his legendary role as the Moor-Slayer (Matamoros).

The site was occupied from the 12th century onwards by the mother house of the knightly Order of Santiago, which protected pilgrims traveling to Santiago de Compostela. In gratitude for their exploits the Catholic Monarchs ordered the building of a new monastery for the order.