Our next stop, wending our way generally east and south toward Figueres and then Barcelona, and then California, was Leon, the capital of Castille y Leon. Historic country, and a city we really liked for the two days we were there. Despite the heat. Best, I thought, was the cathedral, a late but very respectable Gothic, saved from collapse in the 19th century and then renovated to emphasize its origins, getting rid of most of the interior Baroque crap. The presentation, signage, a good audio tour, even a glossy cathedral magazine (cathedral porn?), only added to a great visit.
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West facade |
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Closer up; not huge, but good sized |
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Nice, appropriately lurid Judgement |
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Thus |
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Even in the archivolts |
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Not so many funny faces in the Gothic world |
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Conehead: were they Goths? |
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Another tympanum (the third was a Mary tympanum) |
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Important Nativity |
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The whole was set apart in a large city square, large enough to appreciate the majesty, the immensity, the centrality, etc. |
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The structure |
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And the flamboyant bits; it was even better on the inside |
1 comment:
Leon loves Leon! Wonder why?
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