San Isidoro romanesque temple - Basilica of Saint Isidore Photograph by Weston Westmoreland

San Isidoro romanesque temple - Basilica of Saint Isidore

by Weston Westmoreland

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Title

San Isidoro romanesque temple - Basilica of Saint Isidore

Artist

Weston Westmoreland

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

San Isidoro romanesque temple, Basilica of Saint Isidore, Leon, Spain.

The Basilica of San Isidoro is a Romanesque church in Leon, Spain, located on the site of an ancient Roman temple. Its Christian roots can be traced back to the early 10th century when a monastery for Saint John the Baptist was erected on the grounds.

San Isidoro is one of these jewels one can easily miss. The outside of the building is beautiful but, given the temple stands in Leon, surrounded by so many other impressive buildings, you might overlook it.

Myself, in what refers to christian temples, I am a Gothic guy. Never cared much for the Romanesque, too sturdy, to spartan, too dark. However, I was fortunate enough to be advised to visit San Isidoro by no less than three different persons.

And I paid heed.

Got me into some trouble with my wife too, because the visit is longish and I was already going there on borrowed time, but Saint Isidore, changed my view of Romanesque forever.

A friend told me she saw Gothic as male and Romanesque as female. I had never thought about it in these terms and I found this way of approaching both styles beautiful. However, it was in San Isidoro when I actually saw what she meant.

San Isidoro is not dark, it is not sturdy, or austere. It is graceful. Gothic is more severe, more edgy, more menacing, while Romanesque is more welcoming, roundish, soothing... While a Gothic cathedral might want to awe you, Romanesque embraces. So beautiful.

If you ever have the luck to visit Leon, in Spain, do not miss Saint Isidore. You will not regret it.

Ah, and I did not even bother to comment that the paintings on the ceiling of the crypt which held the tombs of many a king and queen, are considered the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque. That is a reason to visit the place too. The main one for many. Myself, what I love is the nave and these amazing transepts.

You can learn more about what drives me in my blog:

http://inspiringthoughtsandimages.com/

Weston Westmoreland.