Cádiz Cathedral, Cádiz, Spain - SpottingHistory.com

Cádiz Cathedral built between 1722 and 1838. The Plaza de la Catedral houses both the Cathedral and the Baroque Santiago church, built in 1635.

The church was known as 'The Cathedral of The Americas' because it was built with money from the trade between Spain and America. The 18th century was a golden age for Cádiz, and the other cathedral that the city had got, Santa Cruz, was very small for this new moment of Cádiz. The new cathedral was built from 1722 to 1838. The first person who designed the church was architect Vicente Acero, who had also built the Granada Cathedral. Acero left the project and was succeeded by several other architects. As a result, this largely baroque-style cathedral was built over a period of 116 years, and, due to this drawn-out period of construction, the cathedral underwent several major changes to its original design. Though the cathedral was originally intended to be a baroque edifice, it contains rococo elements, and was finally completed in the neoclassical style. Its chapels have many paintings and relics from the old cathedral and monasteries from throughout Spain.

In the crypt are buried the composer Manuel de Falla and the poet and playwright José María Pemán, both born in Cádiz.

Levante Tower, one of the towers of Cádiz Cathedral, is open to the public and shows panoramas of the city from on high.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

S Vegi (2 months ago)
Not much to the cathedral. It's interesting, but not particularly beautiful. Don't skip the walk up to the top of the bell tower and if you can, go up there on the hour. The views are excellent.

Terry Hanlon (2 months ago)
Wonderful place steeped in history and the walk up to the bell tower is slightly challenging but most definitely worth it for the views over the town.

Benjamin Macdonald (4 months ago)
Essential visit in this wonderful city. Tower climb is worth the trip, and has a slope for those needing a bit of time to get to the 72nd level.

Smart Joe (5 months ago)
Most beautiful city in the world , the beautiful Spanish government as always renewing every year! But this year is really different! Walking on those streets feeling the soul of the beautiful Caiz! Thanks for the Spanish government Thanks for the ayuntamiento de Cádiz! Viva España!

Lukasz Taborski (5 months ago)
Built for over 100 years, it is a symbol of the city. The magnificent golden dome with the entire structure looks great from a distance. The square in front of the cathedral captures the wonderful atmosphere. Sit on the steps of the cathedral or in the cafe in front of the building and enjoy the atmosphere of this place.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright saxuisse

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Les Invalides is a complex of buildings containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building"s original purpose. The buildings house the Musée de l"Armée, the military museum of the Army of France, the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, and the Musée d"Histoire Contemporaine, as well as the burial site for some of France"s war heroes, notably Napoleon Bonaparte.

Louis XIV initiated the project in 1670, as a home and hospital for aged and unwell soldiers: the name is a shortened form of hôpital des invalides. The architect of Les Invalides was Libéral Bruant. The enlarged project was completed in 1676, the river front measured 196 metres and the complex had fifteen courtyards. Jules Hardouin Mansart assisted the aged Bruant, and the chapel was finished in 1679 to Bruant"s designs after the elder architect"s death.

Shortly after the veterans" chapel was completed, Louis XIV commissioned Mansart to construct a separate private royal chapel referred to as the Église du Dôme from its most striking feature. Inspired by St. Peter"s Basilica in Rome, the original for all Baroque domes, it is one of the triumphs of French Baroque architecture. The domed chapel is centrally placed to dominate the court of honour. It was finished in 1708.

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