Royal Basilica of San Isidoro
Leonese Romanesque and the Royal Pantheon with 12th-century murals, five minutes from the cathedral.
Area: León capital
The Basilica of San Isidoro is one of the great Romanesque churches of Spain. It holds the relics of Saint Isidore of Seville, brought to León in the 11th century, and is tied to the history of the kings of León.
The highlight is the Royal Pantheon, a crypt covered in 12th-century Romanesque murals, popularly called the “Sistine Chapel of Romanesque art”. The visit is completed by the museum and the collegiate treasury.
Tip: book ahead or arrive early in high season, as Pantheon groups are small.