Astorga a.k.a. "Chocolate City"

Astorga

                Astorga was once a Roman city in Spain. Because of its location, at the intersection of the east-west Via Traiana and north-south Via de la Platta from Andalucía, it was a perfect town for Romans to guard the mountain roads that led into the mines. Because Romans had control of the city, Christianity became very popular in this area during the early church. There is a legend that Santiago and St. Paul both preached in Astorga and there is proof that there was a bishopric around the 3^rd century. Germanic tribes, the Visigoths, took control over Astorga and destroyed the Roman city. However, it prospered with the help of Saints Toribio, Fructuoso, and Valerio. In 714, Muslim invaders destroyed the city again. When it was won back, it became a center Christain town again. In the 11^th century, Astorga thrived because of the pilgrimages to Santiago de Compestela. Merchants came from León, Castilla, and France to set up shops. There were also many Jewish people who were welcomed into the city despite their beliefs. They participated in every aspect of the city life until 1492 when they were driven out.

              
                Because of its location, Astorga was a place for pilgrims to rest and get ready to climb the mountains in the west or to rejuvenate after climbing east. Astorga had 21 hospices. Today, there is the Hospital de las Hermana de la Caridad which is a medical facility in front of the cathedral that was built after the destruction of the 12^th century hospital that was consequently destroyed in 1756.

              
                Important monuments include the Catedral and Museum, Iglesias de Santa Marta and San Estban, Bishops’ Palace and Museum, the walls around the city, Chocolate Museum, Ayuntamiento, Iglesia de San Bartolomé, Roman ruins, “Synagogue,” Iglesia de San Andrés, Santuario de Fátima, convent del Sancti Spiritus, Aljibe, Monasterio de San Francisco, and the Convento de Santa Clara.

             
                Astorga, to me, is a place that promotes community. By having the cathedral, the museum, and of course, the chocolate museum, the community that lives there seems welcoming to pilgrims and visitors. I felt like anyone could walk into a shop and they would be welcoming. Even thought Astorga is fairly large, it still has the sense of community and closeness that one would get in a small town.

                The cathedral is beautiful. Architectural style similar is Leon, this cathedral brings 12th century Gothic to an otherwise fairly modern town. One of the pieces that I personally enjoyed most was the stained glass window of Jesus at the rear of the church because it made me think about the fact that He was there and was watching over the people of that church and also us as we travel.

                The museum, I think, becomes a key component of the pilgrimage because it brings to life the people that had passed through or the culture of the people that lived there when the cathedral was built. Think of it as a time machine where you can go back into time and see what living there was like or if you are a pilgrim, what the people that you met were like. I think it adds to the pilgrimage because not all places have museums and if they do, some do not have the amount of things to show. Obviously, in bigger cities, you can expect more things, but this museum really captured the feel of the town back in the 12th century and through to the present.

This is one of the books that are found in the museum. 

This is the chapel of Santiago in the cathedral in Astorga. 

This is the chapel in honor of Mary inside the cathedral.

This is a stained glass window that is located above the chapel of Mary.

This is a symbol found on the pews of the cathedral.

Being the music major that I am, this is the organ of the cathedral that is inside the choir in the middle of the church.

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               The one place that probably does not technically count as part of the Camino de Santiago but is a must to go see is the chocolate museum. I am a lover of chocolate so naturally you can understand why I would love to go there. However, candy and chocolate are major industries in this region of Spain. So naturally, we had to go there. It was wonderful. Not only was the chocolate delicious, if I do say so myself, but the history that is stored there provides a little detour from the hard labor of walking or biking and lets pilgrims and/or visitors to enjoy themselves even for a little while.