Note: León derives its name from the Roman Legio Septima (seventh legion), established here by Augustus to protect the plains from the Asturian highlanders. During Medieval times, León had the most churches and monasteries in all of the Iberian Peninsula. It was one of the pilgrimage sites on route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, home of the shrine dedicated to Saint James, the patron saint of Spain. Various pilgrimage routes in the autonomous communities of Aragon, Navarre, and Castilla y León correspond to old Roman roads built in the northern portion of the Iberian Peninsula. The following historic sites are located in León: the Cathedral of Santa María de la Regla; Collegiate Church of San Isidro; Church of San Salvador de Palaz de Rey; Church of Santa María del Mercado; Collegiate Church of Augustinian Friars; Church and Hospice of San Marcelo; Monastery of San Marcos; Church of San Lorenzo; Church of San Salvador del Nido; Convent of Benedictine Nuns of Carvajal; Church of Santa Ana; Hospital and Hermitage of San Lázaro; Hospital of Jerusalem or Santo Sepulcro; Hospital of San Miguel; and the Hospital of San Juan.
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