Spain is one of the countries in the world with more cathedrals. There are 88 cathedrals in Spain and all different styles can be found: Romanesque, gothic, baroque, Mudejar (a local style with Moorish influences) or renaissance. The best cathedrals in Spain are part of the most important tourist attractions in the country
The cathedrals in Spain are part of the most important tourist attractions in the country. Some of them are totally out of the most visited parts of the country and, as a matter of fact, the 2 largest cities in the country, Madrid and Barcelona, do not hold the most impressive cathedrals in the country…. All 88 cathedrals but one (the Cathedral in Lleida which was transformed into a museum) provide religious service today.
In this post we will cover an important part of Spain´s history. Spain´s history is totally connected to the re-conquering process that took place during centuries. The country, once almost occupied by the Moors who developed Al-Andalus, gradually became Christian. Churches, abbeys, and monasteries were built along with castles. Cathedrals were also part of this process, though the significant development took place once the reconquering process endeded.
Some of the most spectacular Cathedrals in Spain were transformed from Mosques. This is the case of the Cathedral in Palma de Mallorca, or Seville. An amazing exception if the Mosque of Cordoba, which serves both as a cathedral and a mosque.
The Cathedral of Granada is one of Spain´s most remarkable cathedrals. Yet, it is not easy for any of the best tourist attractions in Granada to “live” by the shadow of the Alhambra. The cathedral offers a fantastic combination of styles and even though it was never finished (it was meant to have 2 towers while only one of them was half-finished) But its main interest is the Royal Chapel, the place where the Catholic
Cadiz cathedral – visitor´s guide The Cadiz Cathedral is a beautiful well-proportioned baroque building with neoclassical elements. Its shape and the golden-yellow dome is an icon for the city. When the evening sun arrives the views of the cathedral from the seafront are magnificent. Any visitor will understand easily why the cathedral is called “santa Cruz sobre el Mar” (The Saint cross over the sea). The highlights of the cathedral include one of the best
The 2 cathedrals in Salamanca- visitor´s guide Any visitor to Salamanca will be surprised to learn that Salamanca enjoys two Cathedrals that stand side by side. In this Salamaca´s Cathedral guide we will cover the most interesting things to enjoy during a visit to the Cathedral. Since the visit covers both cathedrals and they literally stand next to each other, we will cover in this guide both cathedrals at the same time. Table of Contents
Leon´s cathedral – Ultimate visitor´s guide The Cathedral is Leon´s spiritual heart. This is one of Spain´s gothic top masterpieces and we would recommend you enjoy it both from the outside (either during the day when bathed by the northern sunshine) or during the night when it gets illuminated. But the best of Leon Cathedral awaits the visitor inside. The vidrieras (stained glass) of the cathedral is what leoneses are especially proud of and you
After James I of Aragon had taken Valencia in 1238, Gothic churches and monasteries were built in Valencia and all along the coast. Almost all these buildings were later altered in the baroque style and thereby frequently disfigured, This fact also applies in part to Valencia cathedral. In 1262 the foundation stone was laid for the building, on whose site there had previously stood a Roman temple of Diana,a Visigoth church and after this a
Mallorca cathedral was built between 1230 and 1600 and thus has parts which are Renaissance despite most of the building is gothic. Locals from Mallorca refer to the Cathedral as “La Seu”. La Seu is the most impressive building in the city of Palma de Mallorca and one of the best gothic cathedrals in Spain. It keeps many anecdotes and secrets, like the intervention of Antoni Gaudi in its completion. Cathedral of Mallorca Tours to
Burgos Cathedral is located in the city of Burgos, in the region of Castilla Leon. The building that we see today stands on site of the original building and was buit in 1221 on the orders of King Ferdinand III (the Holy) and Bishop Mauricio. Cathedral of Burgos visitors`guide The building, which dominates the whole town, was designed by Master Enrique, who also built the Gothic cathedral in León. The Puerta Real or Santa María
Cathedral of Málaga Construction of the cathedral of la Encarnacion in Malaga began in 1528, following the plans of notable contemporary architects; building stopped in 1783 (late if compared to other Spanish cathedrals) . An imposing marble stairway leads up to the W. façade. Two towers-of which only the N. one was completed-flank the three portals; the other tower is called ‘Manquita’ in the local vernacular, which means ‘the one without’. The middle portal has
The old cathedral was totally destroyed in the revolt of the Comuneros. Charles V ordered a new cathedral with a different ground plan to be built on a higher site. Building of the late Gothic cathedral began in 1525. It is known as the “Lady of the Spanish cathedrals‘ owing to its elegance, slender lines, and restrained austerity. The ground plan was drawn up by Juan Gil de Hontañón, who was simultaneously building Salamanca Cathedral.
La cathedral Primada of Toledo is the Town´s major monument and one of Spain’s cathedrals best examples of pure Gothic style. It contains an outstanding art museum with paintings from El Bosco or El Greco, to name but a few. Any visit to the city of Toledo should include time at the Cathedral. The visitor center is opposite the entrance and tickets can be bought there or get them included in one of the daily
La Giralda and cathedral – Compelete visitors guide History and styles A lot has been said and written about the Sevilla Cathedral, Santa Maria de la Sede, and the Giralda, which was minaret of the old mosque on which it was built in the XV century. This is one of Spain´s top attracions. Seville was the capital of the Iberian Peninsula during the Almohad domination, it was its biggest mosque three centuries earlier. has two
Great Mosque of Cordoba . A complete guide The Great Cordoba Mosque is a grandiose and fascinating part of the Muslim art, initiated by the Caliph Abderraman I, that resumes in its history the evolution of the Omeya style in Spain on top of the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque style of the Christian construction, This is one of Spain´s landmarks, a must-visit, unique place in the world and for many people Spain´s most beautiful cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Eulalia Barcelona’s Cathedral is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Eulalia. The beginning of the church dates back to the 5th Century. However, the impressive view of the cathedral was built in the 19th Century when the façade and other parts of the temple were redecorated in neo-gothic style by the architects J. Oriol Mestres and August Font. You must visit the crypt under the main altar – one
The Almudena, Madrid´s Cathedral Due to the way in which it was built, the cathedral of Madrid, the Cathedral of La Almudena has received critics. Some claim it has no real style. This can be well true, but its dimensions and some of the things we find inside it make it with no doubt one of the top attractions in Madrid! Unlike most cathedrals, the orientation of the Almudena is North-South (instead of East-West). The
The goal of the streams of pilgrims that arrive in Santiago de Compostela is the Plaza de España, or Plaza del Obradoiro – which means the square of goldwork. Stately buildings surround the Plaza, including the superb façade of the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral: one of the most beautiful churches on the Iberian peninsula, and the end of El Camino de Santiago. Visitor guide – Santiago Cathedral Recommended tour to enjoy the cathedral A visit
