Advice please. For architecture and history buffs, which destination would you advise? Other than a fab cathedral in Leon, my interest is in staying at the knock out gorgeous parador. We are touring through central Spain and already staying in Toledo, Cuenca, Segovia, Avila and El Escorial. Now, for the additional 3 days we have, we can't decide between Salamanca and Leon.

We have pleasant memories of a summer study (St. Teresa) in Salamanca years ago. It is a wonderful old town. Ditto Avila, Segovia. So Toledo from Madrid for a day? I would not visit El Escorial but others will differ. We were in Madrid and Andulacia last Octboer.

From the information on the net, the Leon parador appears to have more appeal in that it is in a former convent, while the Salamanca parador is in a modern building.

The Parador at Leon was wonderful but really we only found enough things to do to justify staying one night, whereas Salamanca was overall a much greater experience with plenty to do and see. possibly one night in Leon and 2 in Salamanca?

While you are in central Spain, two other places on your list should be Burgos for the cathedral etc,. and Valladolid for the museum of polychromatic sculpture - a real insight into the spanish psyche.

We loved the Parador in Leon and our intent was to stay two nights.

We left after one night, as we felt it was not a walking city.

It was good for one night.

Now Salamanca for us was lovely and we stayed 2 or 3 nights.

I like annhig's suggestion.

I spent 2 nights (basically 1 1/2 days) in Leon and found more than enough to see. I liked it very much. I don't understand the comment that one poster did not find it a walkable city. I walked everywhere and saw many, many sites. I stayed at the NH Hotel in Plaza Mayor. It is less than a 20 minute walk from the Cathedral to the parador.

I loved Salamanca! Spent 4 nights there! Stayed at the NH Cathedral. Loved the Plaza Mayor in this town. So very much to see and do here, 4 nights wasn't enough.

Thanks all. I wish the Leon parador was in Salamanca or Segovia. LOL. I can't justify the 3 hour train to Leon for just one night so probably will stay in Salamanca for three nights.
Any suggestions for lodging there? We are booked at Microtel Pacentinos but open to change.

"will stay in Salamanca for three nights"

Salamanca is, IME, stunning -- enjoy!

A toss up between your hotel and my favorite Room Mate Vega!
It's very easy to miss some wonderful places in Salamanca so I suggest you book a tour through the tourist office-very reasonable about 7 euros.
I stumbled on to the wonderful palacio Salina-very quirky salt palace from the 1500s-they had a presentation of its history-done by dressed up actors-it's free!
Don't forget to look for the astronaut and the frog around the cathedral doors!

We stayed at the www.hotelrua.com/en for three nights. It's right at the plaza.

You could also look at booking.com for rates.

A very nice breakfast.

That's a shame PE - those linen sheets in the Parador are exceptional!

linen sheet,really???????????

oh yes, chapla - real linen sheets. Delicious. As was the food in the restaurant. At the time it was the most we had ever spent on a night in a hotel, and worth every penny.

annhig-funny/strange but I don't recall linen sheets in the numerous paradores I've enjoyed-sound a bit too rough-but i do remember the great toiletries and fabulous breakfast buffet!

not rough, chapla - not the ones I remember, anyway, but smooth and wonderfully cool in a hot climate. Each parador is different - the one at Leon was very special.

We were so impressed that when we could afford them, we bought some linen sheets; they are great time sleep in but look awful when they come out of the wash as they crease terribly. In a hotel this is not such a problem as they have professional laundries but at home, it detracts from them somewhat.