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Fortification · Astorga, Castela e Leão
Muralla de Astorga
Wall of Roman origin, from the 3rd and 4th centuries, over 2 km around the old town, with semicircular towers (cubos) and a walkway on top of part of it.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Muralla de Astorga
Astorga stands on a hill surrounded by a wall more than 2 km long. The first defense was the Roman camp of the Legião X Gêmea in the 1st century. The wall seen today was built between the 3rd and 4th centuries, at the end of the Roman Empire, and was repaired and restored many times afterward, in the Middle Ages and in later centuries.
The layout is marked by the cubos, semicircular towers that repeat along the wall. In several sections the wall supports gardens and elevated walkways, offering views over the Maragatería plain and the mountains of León. The promenade of the Jardim da Sinagoga, near the cathedral, is one of the nicest stretches.
The cathedral and the palácio de Gaudí sit next to the wall, and it's from that side that you get the classic photo of the two buildings atop the walls. The Puerta del Sol, one of the old gates, and the sections to the south show layers from various periods.
The wall is walked on foot, partly along the top and partly along the street that runs around it, in about an hour.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 hour for the walk around.
Best time
In the late afternoon, with the low light on the cathedral and the palácio seen from outside the walls.
How to get there
The wall surrounds the old town. The section next to the cathedral and the palácio de Gaudí is about a 10-minute walk from the train station.
Tip
For the photo of the cathedral and the palácio de Gaudí atop the wall, leave the old town and look up from below, on the north side.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Muralla de Astorga
Is Astorga's city wall Roman?
Its origin is Roman, from the 3rd and 4th centuries, but it has been rebuilt and restored many times since the Middle Ages.
How long is Astorga's wall?
More than 2 km, around the old town, with semicircular towers along the wall.
Can you walk along the wall?
On several sections, yes—via gardens and elevated walkways, such as at the Jardim da Sinagoga, near the cathedral.