- Address: Calle de Bailén, 10 28013 Madrid
- Phone: +34 915 42 22 00
Walking around Plaza de Oriente for the first time, it's hard to guess that the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral were built with a difference of 250 years. This is one of those rare examples where one historical building complements the other, forming a harmonious architectural complex.
The history of the creation of the cathedral is a complex way of interlacing religious moments and legends. The full name of the cathedral - Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena - reflects its history and purpose. It is rumored that the first statue of the Virgin Mary came to the Spanish land from the apostle James, who sailed from across the sea to convert the pagans to Christians. Later, the Iberian Peninsula was temporarily captured by the Arabs, and the statue was secretly sealed in the walls of the city of Madrid . "Almudena" is an Arabic word and translates as "fortress". In the XI 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 the statue from that time was called the Mother of God Almudena, the patroness of Madrid.
In the 16th century, Madrid became the official capital of Spain, and the issue of the construction of the temple began to be discussed with renewed vigor, but since Madrid had not previously been a diocese, this required permission from the higher ecclesiastical authority. Everything was decided only by 1884, when Pope Leo XIII created the diocese of Madrid-Alcala. The status of the building grew from the church to the cathedral, and its first stone was laid. Construction was completed only by 1993, replacing several architects, styles, and taking a break during the Civil War.
The Almudena Cathedral attracts with its simplicity and at the same time greatness. Two styles - romantic and gothic - perfectly intertwine, complementing each other. The interior filling will make your trip 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 premises are bright and peaceful. The cathedral contains in itself a statue of the Virgin Mary of the 16th century, the relics of St. Issidra, it is decorated with statuettes and paintings, and the bronze gate of the cathedral is a picture of the events of victory over the Moors.
The Almudena Cathedral is a modern cathedral in Madrid, meeting all European standards.
How to get to the Cathedral and visit it?
The Almudena Cathedral is located in the center of Madrid, the nearest metro station is Opera, you will reach it by lines L2 and L5. If you plan to go by bus, then on route number 3 or number 148, go to the Bailen Mayor stop.
For all comers, the cathedral is open from 10:00 to 21:00, the entrance costs about € 6, for a preferential category - € 4. On a day off, you can go to the service, which will help to penetrate the grandeur and beauty of the universe. Near Almudena, an observation deck is built, from where you can admire the views of Madrid.
Since the cathedral is located in the center of the city, after only a few minutes, you can also visit one of the most unusual markets in Madrid, San Miguel , stroll through the Plaza Mayor , visit the Teatro Real and go on a tour of the Descalzas Reales Monastery.
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