Santa María de León Cathedral!

What is it?	This is the central cathedral of the city of León!
What makes it historical?	Ordoño II, King of León, having vanquished the Moors at the Battle of San Esteban de Gormaz in 916 AD, was so grateful for the divine support he believed led him to victory that he donated his royal palace to the creation of a holy temple! Over the years, the temple was attacked and rebuilt several times, dedicated by Alfonso I in 999 AD, then restored and refurbished in 1067 AD! It is the final resting place of Saints Isidore, Alvito, and Froilán, not to mention a number of bishops and kings, including Ordoño II! The highlight for me, visiting this cathedral, was the Virgen del Mercado, a simple statue of Mary mourning for her son. The expression on her face is the opposite of grace, wracked with agony and true maternal anguish! It was a powerful sight to behold and well worth viewing inside!
How can I Help the Helpers?	HERE’S HOW: Pay the entrance fee and contribute toward site maintenance, sign design, and other visitor services! Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
Where is this place?	Plaza Regla, s/n 24003 León Spain From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: ~276mi (445km) — 92hrs From Burgos: ~108mi (174km) — 36hrs From León: ~0mi (0km) — 0hrs From Santiago de Compostela: ~184mi (297km) — 61.4hrs
When should I go?	Hours are complex and seasonal, so I have to link you to the cathedral’s visitas page! I can almost guarantee you’ll be able to enter the cathedral at some point during your stay, though!

The Bill Beaver Project

Click here to see more from El Camino de Santiago de Compostela!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply