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Wise Pilgrim APPLa Baneza is the second-largest town on this stretch and a natural resupply point before the final push to Astorga. With roughly 10,000 inhabitants, it has full services -- supermarkets, pharmacy, ATMs, restaurants, and accommodation at various price levels.
The town has been a market center since the Middle Ages, a role it still fills today. The Plaza Mayor retains some character, and the Iglesia de Santa Maria is worth a look if you have time. The real draw is practical: this is your last chance to stock up properly before Astorga, though the towns in between aren't as barren as the meseta villages to the south.
From here the landscape begins to change subtly. You're entering the Maragateria -- the historic homeland of the Maragatos -- and the architecture, the food, and the feel of the villages shifts accordingly.
Carnaval in La Baneza is one of the most celebrated in Castilla y Leon, declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest. If you're passing through in February, expect crowds and costumes.
