Walking the Camino de Santiago
When one enters the Catedral de Santa María de Astorga, the first altar one sees is this rather incongruous site on the outside of the central choir. This neoclassical gem is realized in marble, jasper, alabaster, and bronze. From here, one cannot see the high altar – the choir structure intervenes – although side altars and chapels stretch down both […]
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The Catedral de Santa María de Astorga is built using several different native stones of very different colour. As you can see here, the southeast tower is built of red stone. The door here is the designated holy door in Astorga for the Jubilee Year of Mercy. A few places had them, but I believe that this is only the […]
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After our views of the cathedral door and vault, I thought it might be nice to pull back and see how it all works together. Magnificently, as it turns out. Date: 20 April 2016 Place: Astorga (Castilla y León, Spain)
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Raising your eyes from the door to its covering arch, you are overwhelmed by this image of Christ being lowered from the Cross. The level of detail is stunning, and for as long as I looked at it, I kept finding new things. It’s an unusual image to be so prominent, but it tells a compelling story. It’s as if […]
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As with many larger churches, the Catedral de Santa María de Astorga has three front doors. This is one of them – I believe it’s the larger, center door. There’s just something about a door. I love the detail work, which complements the amazing sculpture of the cathedral without trying to compete with it. Date: 20 April 2016 Place: Astorga […]
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Following our tour of the museum, Francine headed for a nap at the albergue, and I headed for the Cathedral with its own museum. All three of these buildings front on the same plaza. Since all the buildings are crowded close in, there’s not really a good vantage point to photograph the Cathedral. There might be a decent vantage point […]
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This is the (unconsecrated) altar in the (never used) chapel of the (never inhabited) Episcopal palace in Astorga. The chapel itself is beautiful. It’s well-proportioned and ringed with gorgeous stained glass windows. The altar itself is stone and features a lovely statue of Virgin and Child, crowned in gold. It’s a shame that this part of the museum, at least, […]
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This haunting statue of Saint Francis of Assisi, found in the Museo de los Caminos in Astorga, seems to be urgently calling us to contemplate the Four Last Things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. Memento mori. Date: 20 April 2016 Place: Astorga (Castilla y León, Spain)
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This wonderful medieval processional crucifix may be found in the Museo de los Caminos in Astorga. While I am sad that it is no longer in use, the museum was positively full of pieces like this, as is the cathedral museum next door, so it’s not like the cathedral is going wanting for choice. Date: 20 April 2016 Place: Astorga […]
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Carrying on from yesterday’s feast of Candlemas, here’s a marvelous depiction of the Presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple, found in the Museo de los Caminos in Astorga. I kind of wish I had found this image yesterday! Date: 20 April 2016 Place: Astorga (Castilla y León, Spain)
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