Cathedral in Madrid. Almudena Cathedral in Madrid

The Almudena Cathedral, built on the site of an old mosque, takes its name from the Arabic word al-mudaina, which means "citadel". This is one of the main ones. The full name of this majestic building in the historical center of the Spanish capital is Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena.

The Almudena Cathedral (Catedral de Almudena) is quite new, because it was completed and consecrated quite recently, in 1993. The temple was consecrated by the Pope himself after his fourth trip to Spain. The Almudena Cathedral is currently the only Spanish cathedral consecrated by a pope. In honor of this event, a statue of him was erected at the northern gate.

History of the Almudena Cathedral

Madrid became the capital of Spain in the 16th century, when Philip II became king of the state. And then they appeared ambitious plans to create a new grandiose church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the patroness of the city. However, large-scale projects never came to fruition due to various political differences. In addition, Madrid, despite the fact that it was the capital, was not a diocesan center. Toledo has always been such a center, and its spiritual authorities did not give permission for the construction of a cathedral in Madrid.

Only at the end of the 19th century did Madrid receive permission from Toledo to build a new temple in honor of the patroness of the Spanish capital. A year after construction began, the Pope established a diocese in Madrid. From this decision, the future temple immediately received a higher status - a cathedral.

The project was originally made in the neo-Gothic style. But the construction process was very slow and lasted for decades, and during the Spanish Civil War in the 30s it stopped completely. In 1944, the original design was significantly reworked in a neoclassical style so that it would not differ in architecture from the Royal Palace, which is located nearby. And construction resumed again after some time, but it was still completed only by the end of the 20th century.

Description of the Almudena Cathedral and what to see

The cathedral is located in the historical center of Madrid - its main facade is in front of the Royal Palace. Unlike most Christian churches, whose orientation is east and west, the Almudena Cathedral has orientation from north to south. This non-standard architecture was the result of a conceptual idea according to which the Almudena Cathedral is an integral part of the Royal Palace complex.

The cathedral was built in a mixed style, but the architects and builders managed to achieve harmony between different styles. Here you can see and neo-Gothic, and neoclassicism, and baroque. All interior elements are harmoniously connected with each other. They do not look eclectic, but on the contrary, majestic and beautiful. The dimensions of the building are impressive: its length reaches 102 meters, and its maximum height is 73 meters.

Despite the fact that the building itself is modern, some elements of the interior decoration are quite old, some were brought there from older churches. For example, antique walnut chairs. Also in the green marble altar is a 17th-century crucifix, and an antique figure of Maria Almudena made in the 16th century. The building is very large and beautiful. Inside there are beautiful wall paintings, stained glass windows and many unique statues.

Useful information about Almudena Cathedral

5 interesting features of the Almudena Cathedral

1. There is a well-known legend about the origin of the name. According to this version, in an ancient Arab fortress (which once was in this very place) many centuries ago, a figurine of the Virgin Mary was found in the wall. Apparently, it was hidden there by Christians before the Arabs captured the fortress. From Arabic this word is translated as “fortress”.

2. Entrance to the cathedral itself is free, it is customary to leave voluntary donations there in the amount of approximately 1 euro, but this is optional. You are allowed to visit in any clothing, take photographs and make videos. To prevent tourists from disturbing the believers, the place of worship is fenced. If you come in during a service, you can listen to wonderful organ music.

3. Crown Prince Philip VI of Spain was married in the cathedral in 2004.

4. The Royal Palace is located next to the Almudena Cathedral, so it is convenient to visit both attractions at once. Both the cathedral and the palace with the square form a single architectural ensemble.

5. The cathedral is not a historical monument, especially in comparison with the ancient temples of Spain. But it is interesting from the point of view of modern art and church architecture. The evening illumination of the cathedral is very beautiful.

Almudena Cathedral on the map:

Background information on Almudena Cathedral

Visit to the cathedral:

• Monday to Sunday
• From 9.00 to 20.30
• the entrance is free

How to get to Almudena Cathedral:

• Metro: Ópera (lines 2 and 5)
• Bus: 3, 25, 39 and 148

Almudena Cathedral on video:

Nearby attractions:

• (280 meters)
• (600 meters)
• (860 meters)
• (950 meters)

Visiting the cathedral is free, but entrance to the museum at the temple is paid. A regular ticket will cost 6 euros, and for beneficiaries (pensioners, students, disabled people) - 4 euros. There is a donation box: no one insists on contributions, but 1 euro will not make us poorer. Do not take these words as a rebuke of conscience or a call to action.

Operating mode

The opening hours of the temple depend on the season: April - September opening hours on weekdays - 10:00 - 20:00 (break 14:00 - 18:00), on Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 - 14:00.

In August, all days of the week except Monday, the temple awaits visitors from 10:00 to 14:00.

October - March - on weekdays the cathedral opens its doors from 9:45 to 13:45 and from 16:15 to 18:15. On weekends and holidays you can get to the cathedral from 10:00 to 14:00.

Hours of stay in a modern religious building (how much time to plan)

When planning a visit to Almudena Cathedral, plan to stay in the temple for a short time. One hour will be enough to examine its external and internal decoration. If you go to a service or organ concert, it will take about 2 hours.

The history of the construction of the temple of the patroness of Madrid Almudena

Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena is the full name of the temple. This is the cathedral of the archdiocese of the capital of Spain, built in the 20th century and combining two styles: Erresco (neoclassical style) and neo-baroque.

The mystery surrounding the Almudena statue is shrouded in a beautiful legend. The Apostle James arrives on the Iberian Peninsula to spread the new Christian faith and brings with him the face of the Blessed Virgin of Amuldena. When Spain was enslaved by the Arabs, Christian believers hid it to preserve the statue.

In 1083, Alfonso VI the Brave (his statue is in the photo on the right, click on the photo to enlarge) liberates Madrid from Muslims, but the sculpture could not be found. After the prayer service, the royal procession passed through the streets of the city, the stones of one of the buildings crumbled right in front of the king, and the image of the Blessed Virgin appeared to everyone. Alfonso VI remained in the memory of the Spaniards as an outstanding leader of the Reconquista - the era in which Christians conquered the country from Muslims.

The temple houses a statue of the Virgin of Amulden (meaning “fortress” in Arabic, an allusion to the Arab fortress where the statue was discovered) from the 16th century. From that time on, she became the patroness of the people of Madrid.

The idea of ​​​​creating a place of worship for Catholics illuminated the head of Alfonso XII after the death of Maria de las Mercedes of Orléans, who suddenly died of tuberculosis, having been the king's wife for only six months. In 1884, on April 4, the first stone of the temple was laid. And a month before this, on March 9, 1884, His Holiness Pope Leo XIII signed the bull Romani Pontifices, according to which the diocese of Madrid-Alcala was established.

The first design of the temple in the neo-Gothic style was carried out by Francisco de Cubas. Only in 1911 the tomb for the cult was opened. The chapels of this tomb contain important burials from the 19th century. Civil war and world wars do not allow the construction to be completed. In 1944, de Cubas' project was changed by architects Carl Sidro and Fernando Chueca-Goitia. They planned the façade of the temple to be in harmony with its neighbor, the Royal Palace.

The construction of the Catholic church is completed by 1993. In the same year, on June 15, Pope John Paul II consecrated the cathedral. In memory of this, a statue of the Pope stands in front of the temple. The walls of the temple were built from sandstone, limestone, and granite. Green Granada marble was used to build the main altar. It is crowned with the 17th century Crucifixion of Juan de Mesa.

Walking through the Plaza de Oriente for the first time, it is difficult to guess that the Almudena Cathedral was built 250 years apart. This is one of those rare examples when one historical building complements another, forming a harmonious architectural complex.

The history of the creation of the cathedral is a complex path of intertwining religious moments and legends. The full name of the cathedral - Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena - reflects its history and purpose. They say that the first statue of the Virgin Mary came to Spanish soil from the Apostle James, who sailed from across the sea to convert pagans to Christians. Later, the Iberian Peninsula was temporarily captured by the Arabs, and the statue was secretly walled up within the city walls. "Almudena" is an Arabic word and translates as "fortress". In the 11th century, the territory of Spain was liberated from the Arabs and a decision was made to build a church on the site of the hiding place. And from then on the statue was called the Virgin of Almudena, the patroness of Madrid.

In the 16th century, Madrid became the official capital of Spain, and the issue of building a temple began to be discussed with renewed vigor, but since Madrid had not previously been a diocese, this required permission from the highest church authorities. Everything was decided only in 1884, when Pope Leo XIII created the diocese of Madrid-Alcala. The building's status rose from a church to a cathedral, and its first stone was laid. Construction ended only in 1993, having changed several architects, styles, and taking a break during the Civil War.

The Almudena Cathedral attracts with its simplicity and at the same time grandeur. Two styles - romantic and gothic - are perfectly intertwined, complementing each other. The interior content will make your excursion truly fabulous: the huge dome of the cathedral is decorated with beautiful and bright stained glass windows, the altar is made of green marble, all the rooms are bright and peaceful. The cathedral contains a 16th-century statue of the Virgin Mary, the relics of St. Issider, it is decorated with figurines and paintings, and the bronze gates of the cathedral depict the events of the victory over the Moors.

Almudena Cathedral is a modern cathedral of Madrid that meets all European standards.

Almudena Cathedral is located in the center of Madrid, the nearest station is Opera, you can reach it by lines L2 and L5. If you plan to go by bus, then take route No. 3 or No. 148 to the Bailen Mayor stop.

The cathedral is open to everyone from 10:00 to 21:00, entrance costs about €6, for the preferential category - €4. On your day off, you can attend a service that will help you appreciate the grandeur and beauty of the universe. An observation deck has been built near Almudena, from where you can admire the views of Madrid.

Since the cathedral is located in the city center, in just a few minutes you can also visit one of the most unusual markets in Madrid, stroll through, visit and take a tour of the monastery.

Almudena Cathedral - Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena (la catedral de Santa María La Real de La Almudena) is located on the Armory Square of Madrid, opposite the Royal Palace. Legend has it that the famous Almudena Cathedral was founded in honor of an ancient figurine of the Virgin Mary, which once belonged to the Apostle James, and was found in the wall of an ancient Arab fortress.

Almudena Cathedral - a legend

Tourists studying the history and architecture of Madrid accompanied by a guide will definitely hear the beautiful story of how Jacob, who preached Christianity in the Pyrenees, brought a figurine of the Mother of God to the peninsula. It was preserved by believers until the Arabs came to Spain. The Christians decided to keep the statue and hid it in the best place, which turned out to be the fortress wall. Only in 1083, the image was found by accident - during a procession through the city after a service in the temple, several stones fell off one of the walls. Behind them was the image of the heavenly patroness.

Almudena Cathedral - with the Royal Palace in the background
Almudena Cathedral - Armory Square

Almudena Cathedral - construction

It is to this legend that the temple dedicated to the Virgin Almudena owes its name (translated from Arabic “almudene” means “fortress”). Until the 19th century, Madrid did not have a cathedral, since the Spanish capital was not the center of a diocese. And only after its approval by decree of Pope Leo XIII, the first stone was laid in the foundation of the cathedral. Construction began on April 4, 1883.

The foundation stone was laid by King Alfonso XII the Pacifier with his own hand, and the construction was by no means dedicated to a festive event. The church was supposed to become the final resting place for the royal wife who died of tuberculosis: Maria de las Mercedes of Orleans and Bourbon died just six months after the wedding.

The resulting structure became one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. And today, if you enter Madrid from the southwest side, its towers against the backdrop of the capital are the first thing that catches your eye. In general, the architectural style of the cathedral can be attributed to neo-Gothic. Moreover, an interesting fact is that according to the original plan of the architect, Francisco de Cubas, the building was relatively dark.

Almudena Cathedral and Armory Square in the evening
Almudena Cathedral - inside

Only in 1944 the design of the unfinished temple was changed, after which the structure became much lighter and brighter. With all this, construction was completed only in 1993, that is, 110 years after the laying of the first stone. Work was first interrupted by the civil war, followed by economic recovery. And later, after a new period of construction in 65 - 84, the government simply did not allocate money for work.

Almudena Cathedral - architecture

In the architecture of the cathedral, special attention is drawn to the huge octagonal dome, at its highest point reaching 73 meters. It is surrounded by twelve statues of the apostles, replacing turrets. The facade of the building says little about its religious purpose - facing the armory square (directly opposite the Royal Palace), it looks more like the “face” of an administrative building. Columns on two levels (on the second there is a fairly large portico), rectangular windows and high rows of steps.

Almudena Cathedral - altar
Almudena Cathedral - organ

If it were not for the numerous statues with religious motifs, the building could easily be confused with a university building or, for example, a court. This was largely due to the architect Fernando Goitia, who led the construction in the middle of the last century. He redesigned the facade so that its design was in maximum harmony with the design of the Royal Palace located opposite. However, four statues of evangelists on the balcony, sculptures of Peter and Paul in niches along the edges of the facade, as well as two high towers with bells - all this suggests that this is a religious building.

The building of the Almudena Cathedral is quite impressive: with a total area of ​​4800 square meters. meters, the length of the nave is 82 meters. The width of the aisles is 6 meters, and the width of the nave is 12.5. One of the main decorations of the temple’s interior is a 70-voice organ, built in 1999.

History buffs will be interested in the crypt in which famous people are buried. By the way, the tomb of Maria de las Mercedes, the 18-year-old queen, is not in the crypt, but under the arch formed by two staircases leading to the altar of St. Maria Almudena.

Almudena Cathedral opening hours and entrance fees:

Every day from 9:00 to 20:30 hours
Service times:
Monday to Saturday: 12:00, 18:00 and 19:00 hours.
On Sundays and Public Holidays: 10:30, 12:00, 13:30, 18:00 and 19:00.

Entrance to the Cathedral is formal free.
At the entrance they ask for a symbolic donation of 1 euro per person for the needs of the Cathedral.

Official website of the Almudena Cathedral: http://www.catedraldelaalmudena.es

Address: Calle de Bailén, 10, 28013 Madrid

The Cathedral of Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Madrid. Built in the 20th century, Almudena is a very new temple by European standards, with a modern design that reflects its youth.

Myths and facts

Almudena means . According to legend, a small statue of the Virgin Mary was found in the wall of an ancient Arab fortress at this site. A temple was built in honor of the patroness of Madrid, Saint Maria de la Almudena.

When King Philip II made Madrid the capital of Spain in the 16th century, residents began to hatch plans for a new grandiose temple. But construction was constantly delayed due to various political issues and opposition from the archdiocese.

Finally, in 1868, Madrid received permission from Toledo to build a new temple in honor of Our Lady of Almudena. Construction began in 1883 based on a neo-Gothic design. A year later, Pope Leo XIII established the diocese of Madrid, raising the status of the new church to a cathedral. Architectural plans have been updated to reflect the building's high status.

Construction of the cathedral progressed slowly and stopped completely during the civil war in the 1930s. This process continued in 1944 when the architect introduced a new neoclassical style to match the neighborhood.

The cathedral was completed only in 1993 and consecrated by Pope John Paul II, whose statue is installed in front of the temple in memory of the significant event. In 2004, the luxurious wedding of Prince Felipe and TV presenter Leticia Ortiz took place here.

What to see

The flamboyant interior of the Almudena Cathedral is based on the Gothic style, but is modern and modest compared to most. "Pop Art" stained glass windows, as recently revealed, are copies.

Despite its lack of architectural merit or historical significance, the Almudena Cathedral is worth a visit for its uniqueness, modern beauty and enormous size: the building is 104 m long and 76 m wide, with a central dome 20 m in diameter.

Spain is also home to the largest Gothic cathedral in Europe - in Seville, the main pilgrimage center of Catholicism -