León is the largest city in the state of Guanajuato and the fifth-largest in Mexico. Known as the shoe capital of the world, the city produces around a third of all footwear made in the country, and the leather goods on sale here are genuinely good value.
The city sits about 40 minutes from Guanajuato's colonial capital and makes a practical base for exploring the region. The centro histórico has a handsome cathedral and the Arco de la Calzada, a triumphal arch marking the entrance to a long pedestrian boulevard lined with shops and restaurants. León also hosts the annual Feria de León, one of Mexico's biggest state fairs, running from January into February.