Issue date: 15 Nov, 2012
According to art experts, the Cathedral of Leon has some of the largest medieval stained glass windows. The pulchra leonina, as it is known, began to be built in the second half of the 13th century to replace a Romanesque church built on the site of previous Roman baths from the 2nd century.
The Cathedral of Leon is the Spanish gothic cathedral with the strongest influence from French Gothic. Its floor plan is inspired by the Cathedral of Reims and both its elevation as well as its symbolic and decorative ornaments resembles other cathedrals in France. Not for nothing it is located on the Way of Saint James along which the architectural trends of Europe were introduced in Spain. It has three aisles, a transept and a large ambulatory- the back of the altar for the passage of pilgrims, with five radiating chapels with windows. The aisles of the cathedral are covered with ribbed vaults divided in rectangular sections.
In the late 13th and early 14th centuries the cloister was built featuring pointed arches and capitals depicting scenes from the Bible and everyday life, characteristic of Gothic art. The towers, also Gothic, are of different shape and height and are distinctively joined to the aisles rather than protruding from them.
The main feature of the Cathedral of Leon is the set of stained glass windows which cover the largest possible area of the walls. There are 125 of these and several rosettes, most notably the one in the central portico, between the two towers, the one in the Main Chapel and in the Chapel of Santiago.
In the 17th century part of the central vault of the transept collapsed due to the frailty of the building. After several complex restorations, the dome was rebuilt in the 19th century by the architect and expert medievalist in Gothic architecture Juan Madrazo. In 1901 it was opened to worship.
The souvenir sheet depicts the main facade with its three large doors and towers and one of the sides of the building. The stamp features the White Virgin with Child, whose replica is set in the mullion of the entrance. The original 13th sculpture is kept inside the cathedral.
Rate A - €0.75. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, up to 20 g.
Rate A2 - €0.85. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, between 20 g and 50 g.
Rate B - €1.65. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to Europe (including Greenland), up to 20 g.
Rate C - €1.75. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the rest of the world (except USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand), up to 20 g.
Rate D - €2.10. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, up to 20 g.