Alcalá de Henares Cathedral, Alcalá de Henares, Spain

The Cathedral of St Justus and St Pastor in Alcalá de Henares was constructed between 1497 and 1515 in late Gothic style. The tower was built between 1528 and 1582.

During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) the church was burned losing virtually all its treasures, saving some bars and some chairs from the old choir. In 1991 the diocese of Alcalá restored and elevated to the status of cathedral-master, the Diocese Complutense recovering that which was from the 5th century until 1099.

The exterior of the Cathedral is simple and austere. The walls are covered by molding type Segovia. They emphasize the cover of the western facade of Flamboyant Gothic style, in which central medallion depicted on Saint Ildefonso; and the tower, designed by Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón and Rodrigo Argüello, in herrerian style, with a height of 62.05 meters. Top is a beautiful spire tower slate.

The cathedral has a severe seventeenth century cloister arches between pilasters. Soils appear covered by Renaissance carpets from nearby convents. In one of the walls the grave of Cardinal Cisneros remains.

The building's interior is divided into three naves covered by cross vaults resting on pillars fasciculados. The overall shape of the building resembles the traditional Latin cross with marked transept. The entire building suffered much in that fire, and countless works of art and objects of great historical, devotional and sentimental value were lost. Today the cathedral houses apart from its religious functions, an interpretive center and the Cathedral Museum.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Mari R (2 years ago)
La catedral es preciosa!allí me casé y se bautizaron mis hijos. Para mí es la Iglesia más bonita de Alcalá.el padre manuel es muy majo.

Javier Carreira (2 years ago)
Antes se podía visitar sin pagar, ahora se han vuelto peseteros y cobran por todo. Muy majo el obispo recaudador. Todo por la pasta. Quitando esto, si pasas por Alcalá merece la pena, eso sí prueba a ir en misa que entonces es gratis.

José Sandín (2 years ago)
All of the antiques in its museum are very interesting. For a pretty low price you can go up the bell tower and have a magnificent view of the town.

Mihai Ghilenschi (4 years ago)
Beautifull

Ryan Corcoran (5 years ago)
Open most of the day. Only two euro to go to the top of the tower. No English speaking staff but it is a very straightforward Church. There are audio guides available. Daily mass at 10:00 am and 7:30 pm. 1:00 pm mass during the school year. The body of San Diego de Alcala is here in the second alcove. The Statue of the patroness of Alcala is here as well, Nuestra Senora del Val.

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According to a traditional account, a small Visigoth church, the Catholic Basilica of Saint Vincent of Lérins, originally stood on the site. In 784 Abd al-Rahman I ordered construction of the Great Mosque, which was considerably expanded by later Muslim rulers. The mosque underwent numerous subsequent changes: Abd al-Rahman II ordered a new minaret, while in 961 Al-Hakam II enlarged the building and enriched the Mihrab. The last of such reforms was carried out by Almanzor in 987. It was connected to the Caliph"s palace by a raised walkway, mosques within the palaces being the tradition for previous Islamic rulers – as well as Christian Kings who built their palaces adjacent to churches. The Mezquita reached its current dimensions in 987 with the completion of the outer naves and courtyard.

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