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Built mostly in the Romanesque style, the basilica of San Isidoro has had major additions in the styles of many succeeding centuries including the Gothic. The arches on the crossing of the transept hark back to Islamic art. However the many styles merge into a harmonious whole.
The Romanesque church was erected on a site where several other churches had stood before it. The last of these had been built during the reign of Fernando I, the first king of León and Castile. Immediately after the consecration of the church in 1063, the king died. In the following years his widow, Dona Sancha had the so-called Panteón de los Reyes built to the west of the church site. The Panteón, the burial monument of the kings, is today the oldest part of the building complex.
Based upon a 3 x 3 bay ground plan, the supporting columns in the Panteón have free-standing columns to the east and clustered shafts to the west. The building captivates the visitor not only by its finely articulated walls and vaulting, but also thanks to its exquisitely carved capitals. The vaults and lunettes are also decorated with frescoes.
The photo shows the view of the Panteón de los Reyes.
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