Ledesma, Castile and León Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Ledesma

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in Salamanca

Ledesma, Castile and León

Location in Spain

Comarca

Area

• Total

141.22 km² (54.53 sq mi)

Elevation

780 m (2,560 ft)

Population

(2018)

• Total

1,636

• Density

11.585/km² (30.004/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postal code

37100

Ledesma is a town in the province of Salamanca, Spain. In 2016, about 1,767 people lived there. The area of Ledesma is about 141 square kilometers (54 square miles). It is located about 730 meters (2,395 feet) above sea level. Its postal code is 37100.

Long ago, in ancient Roman times, Ledesma was called Bletisa. It is thought that the Bletonesii people might have lived in this area.

Historical Buildings and Landmarks
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Historical Buildings and Landmarks

Ledesma has many old buildings that show its long history. These structures tell stories of the past.

The Castle of Ledesma

The castle you see today is only a small part of the original building. Much of the outer wall that protected this fortress is now gone. The parts inside the town walls, like the entrances and towers, were connected to another building, which was probably a palace.

Fortress Square (Plaza de la Fortaleza)

The Plaza de la Fortaleza is a large, open area with gardens. Underneath it, there are hidden tunnels, vaulted rooms, and places where gunpowder was stored. There are also old cellars and water pipes from a palace. This palace started being built in the late 1400s or early 1500s.

Town Hall (Casa Consistorial)

The Town Hall building began construction in 1484. It has a rectangular shape and looks very strong, almost like a fortress.

Mocho Bridge (Puente Mocho)

The Mocho Bridge is located about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) north of Ledesma. It is on an old Roman road that connected Ledesma with Zamora. The bridge crosses the Cañedo riverbank. It has five arches that are shaped like half-circles. Many people believe this bridge was built during Roman times.

Gothic and Renaissance Palaces

Ledesma is home to several beautiful palaces from the late 1400s and early 1500s. These buildings show the Gothic and Renaissance styles of architecture.

Church of Santa María la Mayor

The Church of Santa María la Mayor started being built in the late 1100s. At that time, it was in the Romanesque style. Today, only an arch remains from this early period. This arch is where Calle de los Curas (Priests' Street) runs, at the bottom of the church tower.

A large expansion of the church happened between 1492 and 1500. Juan Gil de Hontañón el Viejo was in charge of this work. He built the main part of the church, called the nave, up to the arch that separates it from the main chapel. He also built the middle section of the tower, which is decorated with special "Elizabethan balls."

This part of the church is a great example of the Spanish-Flemish Gothic style. You can see this in its unique "herringbone" ribbed vaults and the curved arch of the back choir. Later, in 1556, Juan Gil de Hontañón the Younger was asked to build the highest part of the tower and design the Main Chapel. Pedro de Inestrosa and Pedro de Gamboa eventually completed this work.