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Home / Provinces of Spain / Cáceres / Cáceres / Attractions in Cáceres /

Santa María Cathedral

This church is located in the square with the same name, and has the rank of cathedral (1957) because it shares the Episcopal headquarters with the cathedral of the Coria. Its construction started at the end of the XIII Century, on the ruins of what seems to be an old mosque.

It consists of three naves divided into five bays by pointed arches that lean on composed Gothic pillars. They are covered by a rib vault. There are two side chapels next to the chancel, and other two on the area of the Epístola (Epistle) and the Renaissance choir.

Inside, we should pay special attention to the door of the sacristy, carried out by Alonso de Torralba in 1525, a beautiful example of the Gothic style from Extremadura. The altarpiece of the Major Altar is a Renaissance work carried out by Roque Balduque in 1551 using cedar wood. The baptismal font was carried out with marble in the XIV Century. There are also numerous headstones, tombs and sarcophagus, as well as a rich collection of liturgical objects from the XV and XIX centuries.

 

At the foot of the tower, we can find the bronze statue of San Pedro de Alcántara, by Pérez Comendador. The exterior of the building is transition from Romanesque to Gothic style. It has Renaissance characteristics in the tower and the choir.

 

This temple also houses a sacred art museum.

Built: XIII- XVI Centuries

Author: Anónimo

Style: Gothic, Renaissance, Romanesque

Category: Religious

Type: Cathedral

Plan your visit

Address and telephone

  • Plaza Santa María, s/n. 10003 Cáceres
  • +34 927 215 313

Opening times

  • Monday to Saturday: From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Sundays and Public Holidays: From 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Prices

Free entry

If you see any mistakes or want to add anything to this information, please contact us.

Location

Attractions in Cáceres

It was built in the XVIII Century on the ruins of a former construction from the XV Century. It is a segmental arch of great spaciousness and skewed, built with this form with the aim of making easier the way of the carriages to the Monumental Town (Ciudad... [+]

It was built in the XVIII Century on the ruins of a former construction from the XV Century. It is a segmental arch of great spaciousness and skewed, built with this form with the aim of making easier the way of the carriages to the Monumental Town (Ciudad Monumental).

 

It is one of the five gates of access to the town, together with the one of Mérida, La Fuente or Puerta del Concejo, the Puerta del Socorro and the Puerta del Postigo.

The 30 June of 1497, this gate had the honour of being crossed by the Queen Isabel la Católica and two years later by his husband the King Fernando V de Aragón.

 

In 1726, Churriguera modified it towards a Baroque style and enlarged it in order to make easier the way of the carriages.

 

Inside, and in a Baroque small temple, was located the image of the Virgen de la Estrella, the reason of its name. After crossing the arch, we can find the Calle de la Estrella that drives to the Plaza de Santa María. It joins the interior of the town with the Major Square.

It is also known as Torre Nueva or Torre del Reloj (New Tower or Clock Tower) during the XVI and XVIII Century, and it was suitable for temporary orientation to those who lived in the public square and worked as merchants. [+]

It is also known as Torre Nueva or Torre del Reloj (New Tower or Clock Tower) during the XVI and XVIII Century, and it was suitable for temporary orientation to those who lived in the public square and worked as merchants.

 

Originally Arab, it is from the same time of the Almohad wall. It has a square floor over Roman ashlars, with two side cantilevers and a frontal one in Renaissance style. It is crowned by merlons and is 10 meters length by 25 meters high. It has a small balcony that was added in the XVIII Century.

Its name belongs to the derivation of the name of the Caliph Abú-Ya’qub, whose troops conquered the town in 1173. According to the legend, 40 Christian Knights of the Orden de Caballería de Santiago (Order of Chivalry of Santiago) were cut the throat of by the Arab troops.

In 1261, this Parish house was built and has been reformed and enlarged several times throughout centuries. [+]

In 1261, this Parish house was built and has been reformed and enlarged several times throughout centuries.

 

The main façade was built in 1587 in Renaissance style. We should highlight the door with a round arch, decorated with dressed ashlars and with forged iron bars on it.

 

Inside this group, we can find two medallions with themes related to the Conquest of America. Inside the building, there is a courtyard with portico decorated with several Episcopal coats of arms. In the upper part we can see the coat of arms of the bishop Galarza.

 

Another façade, the one located in the street of the Arco de la Estrella, presents the coat of arms of the bishop Don Alonso Enríquez de Mendoza. Since many years, the bishop lives here and he governs the diocese Coria-Cáceres from it. Here, we can also find the Diocesan archive. Felipe II stayed here.

This convent is part of San Francisco Javier Church. [+]

This convent is part of San Francisco Javier Church.

 

Its main façade consists of an entablature above supported by columns with composed capitals, and finished off by a broken gable, with a balcony that is closed in its higher part, emphasizing the white marble coat of arms which belongs to Carlos III, with quarters of Castile and León. We can see obvious Churrigeresque influences.

 

Inside, its courtyard with a large cloister attracts our attention.

 

Nowadays, it is the head office of the Palacios de San Jorge (San Jorge Exhibition Hall) and the Regional Ministry for Culture and Heritage of the Regional Government of Extremadura.

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