León, Spain

Founded as a military encampment of Legio VI Victrix around 29 BC during Augustus' Cantabrian Wars, Leon became a permanent fortress when Legio VII Gemina settled there in 74 AD to protect gold mining operations in northwestern Hispania. The city's name derives from the Latin Castra Legionis. Archaeological research has revealed remains of two earlier legionary camps beneath the Legio VII fortress. Long sections of Roman walls from the late 3rd-early 4th century AD still stand, and the Museo de Leon houses inscriptions, mosaics, coins, and Vadinian funerary steles.