The Royal Collegiate Church of San Isidoro de León is one of the most important Romanesque ensembles in the world, being the “frescoes” of its Royal Pantheon considered the “Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque”. given the extraordinary beauty and conservation of his paintings. In it, 11 kings, 12 queens, as well as infants and numerous nobles are buried.
All the companies for the Camino de Santiago organized As Viajes Mundiplus, we recommend all pilgrims who pass through León from the Camino Frances starting in Roncesvalles, or who directly begin a pilgrimage from Camino de Santiago from LeónDon’t forget to visit this Romanesque jewel, as well as its wonderful Gothic Cathedral.
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ORIGINS OF THE COLLEGIATE OF SAN ISIDORO DE LEÓN AND ITS SISTINE CHAPEL
Its origins date from the end of the XNUMXth century and the beginning of the XNUMXth century, in the times of King Alfonso V, from a primitive construction and subsequent reunification, as a royal pantheon, of the monasteries of San Juan Bautista and San Pelayo.
In the XNUMXth century, King Fernando I of León and his wife, Mrs. Sancha, chose this set to unify the various royal Pantheons that existed, from this decision the, previously mentioned, “Sistine Chapel” arose.
RELICS OF SAN ISIDORO
To give relevance and importance to this new construction, they demanded from King Al – Mutadid the remains of the body of Santa Justa but, failing to do so, he instead handed over the relics of San Isidoro, hence the name of the current Collegiate Church of San Isidore,
The transfer was made, through the Vía de la Plata, from Seville, arriving in León on December 22, 1063.
Saint Isidore, Christian martyr – Doctor of the Church and of Spain – is considered the “pedagogue of Europe” and among his many works is the famous “Etymologies”
ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS
The Romanesque Church / Collegiate Church, consists of three naves, a salient transept, and a three-apse head that the central one lost at the end of the Middle Ages to turn it into Gothic, according to the criteria set by the influence generated by the Camino de Santiago at the time.
ENTRANCE DOORS: DOOR OF THE LAMB AND DOOR OF FORGIVENESS
The Puerta del Cordero, constitutes the main access to the basilica and is located in the southern part of the church; in it, on both sides, we can see the sculptures of San Isidoro and San Pelayo and, in its upper part, there are zodiacal signs, as well as references to different sins. The central area shows scenes of the sacrifice of Isaac and, in its upper part, a medallion with “the Lamb of God”, held by two angels.
The Door of Forgiveness, attributed to Master Esteban, was built after the Door of the Lamb, its name is determined by the prerogative of the forgiveness of sins, to all pilgrims who make any of the Camino De Santiago itineraries, in Jacobean years and make their entrance to the basilica through it. It contains in its central part, three scenes of the death, resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ. On both sides of the door are the figures of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
ROOSTER TOWER
Built in the XNUMXth century (year of consolidation of the history of the Camino de Santiago), was part of the Romanesque wall. As the culmination of the tower there is a weather vane with a replica of its “famous rooster”. The original, made of leaded copper covered with gold, is in the Collegiate Museum, is believed to date from the late XNUMXth or XNUMXth centuries.
ROYAL PANTHEON
In addition to the royal tombs, we can highlight the capitals, among which are those representing the sacrifice of Abraham, Balaam’s donkey, the resurrection of Lazarus and the healing of the leper, as the most important pieces of the set.
As we have mentioned previously, the jewel of the Collegiate Church of San Isidoro is the Royal Pantheon, with its frescoes (paintings made in tempera, on a stucco base), made in the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries, which stand out for their spectacular conservation. They were commissioned, most likely, by Doña Urraca, daughter of Kings Fernando and Doña Sancha.
The paintings begin with a broad chronological representation of the most important events in Christianity such as the Annunciation of the Shepherds and end with the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Of all the scenes represented, we will highlight the Christ in Majesty and the agricultural calendar, in which each month is symbolically represented by the agricultural or livestock activity that takes place primarily in that period and the Apocalypse of Saint John, located in the central vault, as well as the scene of the Last Supper. Indicate that to facilitate understanding of all the scenes, there were inscriptions on them.
MUSEUM OF THE CATHEDRAL OF THE COLLEGE OF SAN ISIDORO
We find the following pieces of enormous artistic and cultural value:
CHALICE OF DOÑA URRACA
Piece of Onix (agate) – dated in the XNUMXst century AD, as well as precious stones and gold, donated by Doña Urraca, being evidence of this in the inscription that appears in it: “In Nomine Domini Urraca Fredinandi ” (In the name of the Lord, Magpie daughter of Fernando)
IVORY CASE
Built in wood, in the year 1059, by order of the Kings Fernando I and Doña Sancha, to keep the relics of San Juan and San Pelayo. Decorated with pieces of ivory, which shows us the twelve apostles, as the most representative figures.
ARQUETA DE LOS ENMALTES
Built in wood and embossed with copper sheets, in the mid-XNUMXth century in the city of Limoges, with representations of the Apostles, the Crucifixion and the Tetramorphs.
ARQUETA OF SAN ISIDORO
Made in order to transfer, from Seville, the relics of San Isidoro in the year 1063. Wooden casket covered with gilt and embossed silver, with scenes from Genesis. The interior is covered in luxurious Arabian silks.
It should be noted for the enormous importance that it meant for the city of León and, therefore, for the Collegiate Church of San Isidoro, the decision of Fernando II, in the XNUMXth century, to modify the itinerary that, until then, the pilgrims who were heading to the tomb of the Apostle Santiago, detouring through León, among other reasons because his Court was there. If you do not have the necessary days to start your Camino from León, we recommend you to do the Camino de Santiago organized from Sarria, It is true that you will miss this architectural jewel but instead you will replace it with another jewel of greater depth and scope such as the majestic Cathedral of Santiago.
