List of cathedrals in Spain

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This list presents the cathedrals in Spain, as formally recognised by the Spanish Episcopal Conference.[1] It comprises all 87 active cathedrals and co-cathedrals in the country. All of these institutions are Roman Catholic; cathedrals belonging to other Christian denominations are noted separately below, as are former Roman Catholic cathedrals.

Location of cathedrals in continental Spain, Ceuta and the Balearic Islands. Bold indicates the seat of an Archidiocese.
The two cathedrals in the Canary Islands.

A cathedral is the principal church of a Christian diocese and is distinguished by housing the cathedra, or bishop’s seat, which symbolises episcopal authority.[2] Owing to the strict definitional criteria applied here, several of Spain’s most architecturally or culturally prominent churches fall outside the scope of this list. Examples include Barcelona’s Basilica of the Sagrada Família and Santa María del Mar; the Basilica of Covadonga; the Poblet Abbey; the Hermitage of El Rocío; and the monasteries of El Escorial and Guadalupe.

Christianity was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula during the Roman period, and some of the earliest cathedrals were later constructed under the Visigothic Kingdom. Only minimal remains of these structures survive today, largely as foundational elements beneath present‑day cathedrals such as those in Barcelona and Palencia.[3] After the progressive Reconquista of Islamic Al-Andalus, new cathedrals were erected atop former mosques in the Romanesque style. Notable examples from this era include the cathedrals of Santiago de Compostela, Zamora, and the Old Cathedral of Salamanca. Concurrently, the Mudéjar style also emerged in Castile, a synthesis of Islamic and Christian architectural traditions that extended into Aragón. Its most celebrated expression is found in the Teruel Cathedral. The spread of Gothic architecture, from France along the pilgrimage route of the Way of Saint James, exerted substantial influence on ecclesiastical construction in northern Spain, such as those of Burgos and León. As territories further south were reclaimed, Gothic principles were quickly adopted for new cathedrals, including those of Toledo and Seville—the latter being the largest Gothic church in the world.[4] A distinctive local Gothic tradition endured in Spain longer than in many other European regions, with major works such as Segovia Cathedral and the New Cathedral of Salamanca continuing well into the 16th century.

Although Renaissance architecture initially met resistance for being perceived as foreign or outdated, it eventually gained acceptance and was employed in the construction of significant buildings such as Granada Cathedral, erected on the site of the last Islamic stronghold in Spain. By the 17th century, wealth acquired from the Americas enabled the flourishing of elaborate Baroque architecture, exemplified by the redesigned façade of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral and the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza. Later developments in post‑Gothic styles saw Spanish cathedrals move away from the conventional Latin‑cross floor plan towards more open designs. A small number of cathedrals also incorporate modern architectural elements; Madrid’s Almudena Cathedral, not completed until 1993, is an eclectic synthesis of several reinterpretations of historical styles.[5]

Today, Spanish cathedrals function not only as centres of religious life but also as significant cultural and architectural landmarks. They attract millions of visitors each year, playing a vital role in national tourism. Santiago de Compostela Cathedral—an important pilgrimage destination for centuries—received a record 2.6 million visitors in 2017.[6] Twenty‑four Spanish cathedrals have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, either individually, as in the case of Burgos, or as components of larger historic areas, such as the old towns of San Cristóbal de La Laguna or Ibiza. With the exception of two, all are protected as national cultural monuments.[7][a]

List of Roman Catholic Cathedrals

Bold indicates seat of an archdiocese.

  Indicates a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
More information Name, Location ...
Name Location Autonomous Community Diocese Dedication[b] Notes Images
Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist Albacete Castile-La Mancha Albacete 1955[8]
Cathedral of the Saviour Albarracín Aragon Teruel and Albarracín 1600
Magistral Cathedral of Saint Justus and Saint Pastor Alcalá de Henares Madrid Alcalá de Henares 1991[9] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, as part of the site University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares.[10] Only church together with Saint Peter's of Leuven to have the rank of Magistral, as their canons are required to be doctors in Theology.[11]
Co-Cathedral of Saint Nicholas of Bari Alicante Valencian Community Orihuela-Alicante 1959[12]
Cathedral of the Incarnation Almería Andalusia Almería 1551[13]
Cathedral of Saint Mary Astorga Castile and León Astorga 1069[14]
Cathedral of the Saviour Ávila Castile and León Ávila UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 as part of the site Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches.[15]
Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist Badajoz Extremadura Mérida-Badajoz 1276[16]
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption Barbastro Aragon Barbastro-Monzón 1571[17]
Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia Barcelona Catalonia Barcelona 1058[c]
Cathedral Basilica of Saint James Bilbao Basque Country Bilbao 1955[19] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015, as part of the site Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain.[20]
Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary Burgos Castile and León Burgos 1260[21] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984,[22] Spain's first declared WHS.[23]
Co-Cathedral of Saint Mary Cáceres Extremadura Coria-Cáceres 1957[24] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, as part of the site Old Town of Cáceres.[25]
Cathedral of the Holy Cross over the Waters Cádiz Andalusia Cádiz and Ceuta 1838[26]
Cathedral of Saint Mary Calahorra  La Rioja Calahorra and La Calzada-Logroño
Co-Cathedral of Saint Mary Castellón de la Plana Valencian Community Segorbe-Castellón 1961[27]
Cathedral of the Assumption Ceuta Ceuta Cádiz and Ceuta 1726[28]
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary of the Prado Ciudad Real Castile-La Mancha Ciudad Real 1981[29] Since 1875 it holds the title of priory of the military orders of Santiago, Alcántara, Calatrava and Montesa.[30]
Cathedral of Saint Mary Ciudad Rodrigo Castile and Leon Ciudad Rodrigo 1160[21]
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary Ciutadella Balearic Islands Menorca 1795[31]
Cathedral of the Assumption of our Lady Córdoba Andalusia Córdoba 1236[32] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, and extended in 1994 to create the site Historic Centre of Cordoba.[33] Better known as the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba.[34]
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption Coria Extremadura Coria-Cáceres 1898[35]
Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Julian Cuenca Castile-La Mancha Cuenca 1196[36] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 as part of the site Historic Walled Town of Cuenca. It is considered the first gothic cathedral in Spain.[37]
Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary El Burgo de Osma Castile and Leon Osma-Soria 1272[38]
Co-Cathedral of Saint Julian Ferrol Galicia Mondoñedo-Ferrol 1959[39]
Cathedral of Saint Mary Magdalene Getafe Madrid Getafe 1995[40]
Cathedral of Saint Mary Girona Catalonia Girona 1038[41] Widest gothic nave in the world at 23 m.[21]
Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Incarnation Granada Andalusia Granada 1946[d] Burial place of the Catholic Monarchs.
Co-Cathedral of Saint Mary the Major Guadalajara Castile-La Mancha Sigüenza-Guadalajara 1959[43]
Cathedral of the Incarnation Guadix Andalusia Guadix Guadix is traditionally considered the oldest episcopal see in Spain, founded by Saint Torquatus in the 1st century AD.[44]
Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy Huelva Andalusia Huelva 1954[45]
Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord Huesca Aragon Huesca 1098[46]
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Snows Ibiza Balearic Islands Ibiza 1817[47] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 as part of the site Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture.[48]
Cathedral of Saint Peter Jaca Aragon Jaca 1063[49]
Cathedral of the Assumption Jaen Andalusia Jaén 1660[50]
Cathedral of the Holy Saviour Jerez de la Frontera Andalusia Asidonia-Jerez 1980[51]
Cathedral of Saint Mary La Seu d'Urgell Catalonia Urgell 1040[e] The town itself incorporated the cathedral to its name, being seo an alternate Latin name for cathedral church. Its bishop is one of the co-Princes of Andorra, ruling since 988.[53]
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Anne Las Palmas Canary Islands Canarias 1871[54]
Cathedral of Saint Mary León Castile and Leon León 1303[55]
Cathedral of the Assumption Lleida Catalonia Lleida 1781[56] Commonly known as the New Cathedral of Lleida.
Co-Cathedral of Saint Mary of La Redonda Logroño  La Rioja Calahorra and La Calzada-Logroño 1959[57]
Cathedral of the Assumption of Saint Mary Lugo Galicia Lugo 1273[21] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015, as part of the site Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain.[20]
Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Mary the Royal of La Almudena Madrid Madrid Madrid 1993[58] Only cathedral in Spain and first one outside Rome to be consecrated by a pope.[59]
Cathedral of the Armed Forces Madrid Madrid Military Archbishopric of Spain 1985[60]
Cathedral Basilica of the Incarnation Málaga Andalusia Málaga 1588[61]
Metropolitan Co-Cathedral of Saint Mary the Major Mérida Extremadura Mérida-Badajoz 2006[f]
Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of the Assumption Mondoñedo Galicia Mondoñedo-Ferrol 1246[63] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015, as part of the site Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain.[20]
Co-Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Romeral Monzón Aragon Barbastro-Monzón 1998[64]
Cathedral of Saint Mary Murcia Murcia Cartagena 1467[65]
Cathedral of the Saviour and Saint Mary Orihuela Valencian Community Orihuela-Alicante 1510[66]
Cathedral of Saint Martin Ourense Galicia Ourense 1188[67]
Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour Oviedo Asturias Oviedo 821[68] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015, as part of the site Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain.[20] Its Cámara Santa (Holy Chamber) was previously designated in 1998, as part of site Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias.[69]
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Antoninus Palencia Castile and Leon Palencia 1897[g] Third largest in total area in Spain.[71]
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary Palma Balearic Islands Mallorca 1346[21] Its gothic rose window is the largest in the world, at 13 m.[72]
Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption Pamplona Navarre Pamplona and Tudela 1127[21]
Cathedral of the Assumption of our Lady Plasencia Extremadura Plasencia 1578[73] A complex of two cathedrals, an old and a new one, both unfinished and adjacent to each other.[74]
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See Salamanca Castile and Leon Salamanca UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 as part of the site Old City of Salamanca.[75] Better known as the Old Cathedral.
Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Salamanca Castile and Leon Salamanca 1733[76] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 as part of the site Old City of Salamanca.[75] Better known as the New Cathedral.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Los Remedios San Cristóbal de La Laguna Canary Islands San Cristóbal de La Laguna 1819[77] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 as part of the site San Cristóbal de La Laguna.[78]
Cathedral of the Good Shepherd San Sebastián Basque Country San Sebastián 1953[79]
Cathedral of Saint Lawrence Sant Feliu de Llobregat Catalonia Sant Feliu de Llobregat 2004[80]
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption Santander Cantabria Santander 1754[81]
Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint James the Apostle Santiago de Compostela Galicia Santiago de Compostela 1211[82] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, as part of the site Santiago de Compostela (Old Town).[83] Traditionally regarded as the burial place of the apostle James the Great, and the subject of pilgrimage for centuries. Depicted on Spanish 1, 2 and 5 Euro cent coins.[84]
Cathedral of the Saviour and Saint Mary Santo Domingo de la Calzada  La Rioja Calahorra and La Calzada-Logroño 1232[85]
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady Segorbe Valencian Community Segorbe-Castellón 1534[86] The interior was fully renovated between 1791 and 1795, becoming the only cathedral in the Academic style in Spain.[87]
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and of Saint Fructus Segovia Castile and Leon Segovia 1768[88] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 as part of the site Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct.[89]
Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See Seville Andalusia Seville 1507[90] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, as part of the site Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville.[91] Largest gothic cathedral in the world.[92]
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary Sigüenza Castile-La Mancha Sigüenza-Guadalajara 1169[93]
Cathedral of Saint Mary Solsona Catalonia Solsona 1593[94]
Co-Cathedral of Saint Peter Soria Castile and Leon Osma-Soria 1959[95] Stills keep the older, Romanesque, cloister from the 12th century from a previous church that fell down around 1543. It was replaced with the current, Gothic building.[96]
Cathedral of Saint Mary of La Huerta Tarazona Aragon Tarazona 1235[97] Reopened in 2011 after a 30-year renovation that rediscovered a set of al fresco paintings from the 1540s showing nude mythological creatures, a unique feature for a cathedral in Europe.[98]
Primatial Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint Thecla Tarragona Catalonia Tarragona 1331[99]
Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Terrassa Catalonia Terrassa 2004[100]
Cathedral of Saint Mary of Mediavilla Teruel Aragon Teruel and Albarracín 1587[101] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986 as part of the site Mudéjar architecture of Aragon (specifically its bell tower, lantern tower, and wooden ceiling).[102]
Primatial Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption Toledo Castile-La Mancha Toledo 1493[103] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986 as part of the site Historic City of Toledo.[104] Since 1088, it holds the honorific title of Primatial, granted by Urban II, establishing a higher rank over the rest in the Iberian Peninsula.[105]
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary Tortosa Catalonia Tortosa 1441[106]
Cathedral of Saint Mary the Major Tudela Navarre Pamplona and Tudela 1782[107]
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption Tui Galicia Tui-Vigo 1225[108]
Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of our Lady Valencia Valencian Community Valencia 1238[109] Claims to house the Holy Grail since 1437.[110]
Metropolitan Cathedral of our Lady of the Assumption Valladolid Castile and Leon Valladolid 1668[111] Originally projected to be the largest cathedral in Christendom, it was left unfinished when less than half of the building was built.[112]
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peter Vic Catalonia Vic 1803[113]
Co-Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary Vigo Galicia Tui-Vigo 1959[114]
Cathedral of Saint Mary Vitoria-Gasteiz Basque Country Vitoria 1863[115] UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain.[20] Commonly known as the "Old cathedral".
Cathedral of Mary Immaculate Vitoria-Gasteiz Basque Country Vitoria 1969[116] Commonly known as the "New cathedral". Second largest cathedral in Spain, by area, after Seville.[116]
Cathedral of the Saviour Zamora Castile and Leon Zamora 1174[117]
Metropolitan Cathedral of the Saviour Zaragoza Aragon Zaragoza 1318[118] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001 as part of the extension of the site Mudéjar architecture of Aragon.[102]
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar Zaragoza Aragon Zaragoza 1676[119] With an estimated 5 million visitors in 2015, it's one of the most visited monuments in Spain.[120]
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Former Roman Catholic Cathedrals

This list includes notable historical buildings that held the see of the bishop until it was moved, merged or suppressed. Buildings that once have held the see of current titular sees are not included.

More information Name, Location ...
Name Location Autonomous Community Diocese Dedication[b] Notes Images
Cathedral of the Nativity of our Lady Baeza Andalusia Jaén 1227[121] UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, as part of the site Renaissance Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza.[122] Was the seat of the cathedra between 1227 and 1249, when it was moved to Jaén.
Church of the Assumption of Our Lady Baza Andalusia Guadix Held the rank of Co-Cathedral until the Concordat of 1851.[123]
Church of the Holy Cross Cádiz Andalusia Cádiz and Ceuta 1602[124] Also known as the Old Cathedral of Cádiz. Seat of the diocese between 1602 and 1838.
Cathedral of Saint Mary Cartagena Murcia Cartagena 1250[125] Held the seat of the diocese until 1289, when it was moved to Murcia.[126] Heavily bombed during the Spanish Civil War, it lays in ruins since 1936.[127] In 1988, a Roman theatre was discovered under it.[128]
Old Cathedral of Lleida Lleida Catalonia Lleida 1278[129] In 1707, during the War of the Spanish Succession, king Philip V of Spain took the city and later ordered the destruction of the cathedral. The order never took place, but the cathedral was transformed into barracks and it never had a religious use since then.[130]
Collegiate of Saint Isidore the Royal Madrid Madrid Madrid 1885 Pro-cathedral of Madrid between 1885, date of creation of the diocese, and 1993.[131]
Cathedral of Saint Vincent Martyr Roda de Isábena Aragon Barbastro-Monzón 1030[132] Held the seat until 1149, when it moved to the recently conquered Lleida. Regarded as the oldest Cathedral in Aragón.[133] The town, with approximately 60 inhabitants in 2016, is the smallest one in Spain to have a cathedral building.[134]
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Anglican

The Cathedral of the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church:

Eastern Orthodox

Cathedrals of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople:

Cathedrals of the Romanian Orthodox Church:

  • Romanian Orthodox Cathedral of Madrid, since 2017.[136]

Cathedrals of the Russian Orthodox Church

  • Cathedral of Saint Mary Magdalene in Madrid

See also

Explanatory notes

  1. [a]
    The two excluded ones are the Sant Feliu de Llobregat and Terrassa cathedrals, both located near Barcelona.
  2. [b]
    Year of dedication as a cathedral. This may not reflect the actual age or completion of the building, which can be several centuries older. The latest dedication year known for the current building is used. In some cases, older cathedrals where functioning on the same site, but those buildings were demolished, destroyed or replaced.
  3. [c]
    Consecretion of the Romanesque cathedral. The latter, Gothic building was never formally consecrated, as it was considered a "significant extension" but not a new cathedral.[18]
  4. [d]
    Even though the Cathedral has been active since 1561, it was formally consecrated in 1946 as it was suspected that it has never been so.[42]
  5. [e]
    Consecretion year of the third of the four cathedrals that were erected here. The current building, started in 1116 by Bishop Ot remains in many aspects, unfinished.[52]
  6. [f]
    Formally consecrated in 2006, after lack of evidence that it was done so in 1994, after it was elevated co-cathedral of the archdiocese.[62]
  7. [g]
    Formally consecrated in 1897 after lack of evidence that it was done before.[70]

References

External links

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