Catedral de León (Santa María de Regla)

The usual cathedral elements are virtually eclipsed here by the awesome stained-glass windows -- some 125 in all (plus 57 oculi), dating from the 13th century. They are so heavy they have strained the cathedral's walls. Look for a 15th-century altarpiece depicting the Entombment in the Capilla Mayor, as well as a Renaissance trascoro (westward portion of the nave) by Juan de Badajoz. The nave dates from the 13th and 14th centuries; the Renaissance vaulting is much later. The cloisters date in part from the 13th and 14th centuries and contain faded frescoes and Romanesque and Gothic tombs; some capitals are carved with starkly lifelike scenes. Visitors can also tour the Museo Catedralicio Diocesano de León, which contains valuable art and artifacts, including a 10th-century Bible, notable sculptures, and a collection of romantic images of the Virgin Mary. The cathedral is on the edge of Old Town, 7 blocks east of its most central square, Plaza de Santo Domingo.

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