Pilgrims on the Way

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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)

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 […]

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)

In the basement of the Museo de los Caminos – which I prefer to think of as the crypt – are a number of medieval sarcophagi originally from the Cathedral next door. I believe that the dearly departed were placed in new carved tombs during the Renaissance, probably because of damage to their original resting places. On the side of […]

As a home, the Astorga Episcopal Palace that Gaudí designed makes a great museum. Just walking through, you can see why the Bishop decided not to live here. It’s grand, but not in a comfortable way. As a museum dedicated to the Camino, however, it’s perfect. Date: 20 April 2016 Place: Astorga (Castilla y León, Spain)

The first thing one sees in the Museo de los Caminos is unsurprisingly a statue of Santiago himself, in his guise as a medieval pilgrim. He seemingly guards the entrance to the galleries beyond. I can’t decide if this statue is from the Gothic era or is a medieval statue gussied up with a Gothic paint job. Date: 20 April […]