Basilica of San Isidoro, Minor basilica in León, Spain
The Basilica of San Isidoro is a Romanesque church in León, Spain, serving as a royal burial place and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building shows thick stone walls, rounded arches, sturdy pillars, and decorated capitals typical of Romanesque construction.
Construction began around the year 1000 as a royal burial site for the Kingdom of León, replacing an earlier church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Additional building phases in the 12th century shaped the present appearance and contributed to the regional Romanesque style.
The so-called Calendar Arch inside displays scenes from the agricultural year assigned to the twelve months, offering insight into daily life during medieval times. The images range from spring plowing to autumn grape harvest and reflect the farming work that shaped the lives of people in the Kingdom of León.
The church opens daily for visitors and houses a museum with around 300 medieval objects, including liturgical vessels and textiles. Access to the burial chamber takes place through the museum, where guided tours in several languages are available.
The weathercock atop the tower dates from the 11th century and likely came from the Persian Gulf, as studies during restoration work revealed. This finding points to trade connections reaching far beyond the borders of the Iberian Peninsula, which were rarely documented at the time.
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