The Museo de los Caminos (Astorga, León)

The Episcopal Palace or Gaudi Palace houses since 1963 the Museo de los Caminos (Museum of the Ways). It contains pieces that have been neglected by the churches of the diocese and those that need an appropiate place for their preservation. Most of them reflect the theme of pilgrimage. The contents of the museum symbolize the artistic and cultural heritage of the most important old dioceses in Spain. In the different rooms of the gallery such as the dining room, the throne room, the chapel or the large hall are pieces of great artistic value, such as the many Romanesque carvings from all over the diocese.

Among them is the Crucified of Poibueno, created by Gregorio Español, an sculptor of Astorgan origin. The retable of San Bartolomé, from the late 15 C is another treasure of the museum. The extraordinary collection of smithery show the evolution of this art from the 15 C, when it was like architecture in miniature, to the 17-18 C, when the Neoclassic aesthetics established purer volumes. All of them are masterpieces.

The noble floor includes a variety of religious smitheries ; richly elaborated processional crosses, from the 16-18 C combine with beautiful incense burners, ornamented chalices and monstrances. The cross of Poibueno, created by Sebastian de Encalada and the cross of Castrotierra, whose Christ is attributed to Miguel Angel can also be found.

On this floor there are also some paintings, such as the retable of Navianos, in the throne room, attributed to Berruguete; and another from the 16 C illustrating the life and miracles of San Roman, by an anonymous artist.

The rest of the Noble floor has preserved its original structure, displaying a variety of works such as the Bishop´s Writing Desk, the throne room with the Baldachin created by Gaudi, and the private dining room.

The last floor contains an exhibit of Leonese contemporary artists: painters (Demetrio Monteserín, Petra Hernández, Argüelles...) and sculptors (Marino Amaya, Castorina, Pombo...)

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