Explore the historic highlights of Ávila
Ávila, Spain
11th century
Ávila, Spain
1091
Ávila, Spain
c. 1120
Ávila, Spain
12th century
Ávila, Spain
12th century
Ávila, Spain
1629
Ávila, Spain
1130-1160
Ávila, Spain
1482-1493
Ávila, Spain
16th century
Ávila, Spain
1562
Ávila, Spain
1210
Ávila, Spain
1350
Ávila, Spain
1478
Ávila, Spain
12th century
Ávila, Spain
12th century
Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.
Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.
There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.