The Cathedral

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The Cathedral

The Avila CATHEDRAL is the clearest example of a fortified cathedral in Europe; if the cathedral configures the profile of the medieval city, in Avila the temple and city maintain a close link that exceeds strictly religious limits and is portrayed above all in its defensive character, since its presbytery is inside the fort, becoming the strongest round tower of the wall.

The Avila cathedral is a living lesson of medieval architecture and possibly, the first gothic seen in Castilla, as indicated by Manuel Gómez Moreno.

Dedicated to the Saviour and raised on the prior Romanesque temple, the most ancient part may be dated between 1160 and 1180. The first master, with whom without a doubt its fabrication should be related, is Fruchel, connoisseur of French architecture, who created the general form of the building, changed the initial project and was the creator of the original presbytery, already gothic, built with stone of a reddish colour giving this space great plasticity.

Work was carried out in an uneven manner over the centuries, producing frequent changes to the first architectural project and in which a large number of artists participated. Masters of work, architects, painters, sculptors, goldsmiths, and blacksmiths concluded it, furnishing and adorning the church with paintings, chorus, altars, grilles, pulpits, organ, chapels, sepulchres, etc.

Our visit must be leisurely, to ensure that we are able to appreciate its naves, chapels, cloister and museum.

It is worthwhile to stop at the Altar of the Kings, work of Juan Rodríguez and Lucas Giraldo; the choir was created by several authors and is an essential piece of our cathedrals.

In the main chapel we can see the first six part vaults in Castilla and the painting of Pedro de Berruguete, Santa Cruz and Juan de Borgoña. The sepulchre of Alonso de Madrigal, located in the retro choir, is an essential piece of the Renaissance in Spain. The visit should continue by touring the cloister and the rooms of the cathedral museum where the communion plate made by Juan de Arfe is preserved and even now, on the day of the Corpus, travels through the streets of Avila.