Astorga was one of the first Spanish cities to taste chocolate. The relation between it and the already mentioned region of León dates from the 16th century, when the local nobility established good relations with Hernán Cortés. But its proper flourishing as a thriving chocolate industry happened in the 19th century; and, in 1914, 49 factories were active.
Part of this history can be found in the Chocolate Museum, inaugurated in 1994, being the first museum in Spain dedicated to it. Its founder was José Luis López, a merchant in the city. By chance, he started to gather pieces, converting a small rented local into the most visited museum in the city and one of the most unique in Spain.
One of the most visited rooms in this museum is Cámara de las Maravillas. It gets this name since it was inspired by Cámaras de Maravillas or Gabinetes de Curiosidades created in the 16th and 17th centuries, where the European nobility and bourgeoisie collected and exhibited a wide variety of odd objects of any nature brought from exploration voyages. They eventually disappeared in the 18th and 19th centuries and set the antecedents of the actual museum. Visitors also prefer to visit rooms such as Sala: Elaboración del chocolate and Sala: El consumo del chocolate.
Since 2007, Salón Internacional del Chocolate en Astorga (SICA) is held every odd year. Chocolate manufacturers and makers as well as all sorts of chocolate lovers from all parts of the world gather together here. This event offers a wide variety of possibilities, such as workshops and samplings with a common denominator: chocolate.
Nowadays, Astorga has five chocolate factories, and most of them with their own shops. Peñín chocolates are known to be the most appetizing of all; El Arriero Maragato offers the most surprising chocolates, with cecina shavings. Alonso y Cabezas “La Cepedana” makes the typical hot chocolate of Astorga which can also be enjoyed in their own shop, located in Padres Redentoristas Street, La Maragatina is characterized by maintaining the traditional elaboration process, and their hot chocolate preserves its conventional taste.
But definitely, one of the places you must come to after visiting the old town is Chocolatería Sonrisas, located in PíoGullón Street, near to the main square. It is specialized in the local hot chocolate that can be served with churros or mantecadas. Its opening hours are at 7am in winter and 6am in summer.