From Santovenia wenegotiate a series of secondary roads that undulate through the countryside towards the small town of Astorga. Once a strategically important staging post on the Roman route to Andalucia, it was from this small outpost that the Romans controlled the traffic of gold from mines in the nearby hills of Las Medulas. Later it became a major stopping point on the pilgrim trail to Santiago. Astorga houses some fine medieval buildings, including the superb cathedral, but it is the Palacio Episcopal that probably shines out. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, the Modernista architect at the end of the 19th century, the magnificent Bishops Palace was built to replace its predecessor, destroyed by a fire in 1887. Unfortunately its radical design and horrendous costs resulted in it never being used and it now houses a unique collection of artefacts and treasures devoted to Astorga's history and its importance on the Pilgrim route. Astorga is also famous for its chocolate and in medieval times it was one of the first centres in Europe to undertake the production and copy of the original recipes brought from the Spanish colonies in Mexico. The good news is that you will have an opportunity to purchase some of this renowned confectionary before we leave!