16th Stage: from Calzadilla de la Cueza to Sahagún

The 16th stage takes pilgrims to León, an important Community along the Route to Santiago, full of history and art. But before entering this region, the Route passes through some villages in the Palencia region; including Santa María de las Tiendas, where stands a country house built over the ruins of a 11-12 C hospital; Lédigos, donated to the Church of Compostela by Doña Urraca; Terradillos de los Templarios, a town that, as indicates its name, belonged to this religious-military order; Moratinos; and San Nicolás del Real Camino, a municipality that contains a brick church with a 18 C retable.

The Route leaves Palencia and enters León through Sahagún, today´s staging post. This historical town became relevant thanks to the Route to Santiago. It grew into an important Borough, with fairs and markets where different products could be bought. Likewise, the town developed Romanesque Art extensively. Pilgrims can visit the ruins of one of the most important monasteries in the North of the Peninsula, with large extensions of land.

At one time, coin was minted in the monastery. It also was a prestige cultural centre, where distinguished figures received education, including Fray Bernardino de Sahagún. There are other monuments, including the Romanesque churches of San Tirso and San Lorenzo, from the 12 and 13 C; the small chapel of the Virgin of Puente; the monastery of San Facundo; San Juan, the Trinidad and Peregrina.

The Benedictine brick Monastery is the most remarkable of its kind. Built in the 12 C, the monastery has an outstanding façade with precious Romanesque capitals. In its interior presides a Christ by Gregorio Fernández. Today, the construction houses a museum displaying important works of art from Sahagún and the sorrounding areas. The collection includes a processional monstrance by Enrique de Arfe; many Renaissance and Baroque paintings; Romanesque and Flemish sculptures; processional monstrances from different periods; and a Churrigueresque retable. The monastery also houses the sarcophagi with the remains of the King Alfonso VI and his wives.

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