Cathedrals in Spain

The cathedrals in Spain are the diocesan churches in Spain and an important part of the nation's historical heritage due to their great historical, religious, and architectural value. For centuries, the Spanish cities were built around them. The National Programme of Cathedrals aims to protect and conserve a total of 91 houses of worship, which includes cathedrals, concathedrals and former cathedrals. The Sagrada Família in Barcelona is not a cathedral, but a parish church of the Archdiocese of Barcelona, so it is not included.

The Toledo Cathedral seat of the Primates of Spain

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is one of the most visited temples in Spain.

Due to the long construction time required for construction, as well as the Moorish influence in the Iberian Peninsula, several Spain's cathedrals are often an eclectic mix of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Neoclassical and Mudéjar styles.

In the Middle Ages, the first portion of the building built would be the main altar and apse. After that the construction was followed with the crossing at the transept and the nave. It was during this time that Spain's great Gothic cathedrals such as those at Burgos, Toledo, and León, were built. At the dawn of the Renaissance, Spain saw herself commanding an empire in the new world. Spanish cathedrals began to incorporate newer classically-based architectural styles as seen in Granada Cathedral. Later, wealth from the Americas financed ornate Baroque architecture such as a new façade for the Romanesque cathedral of Santiago de Compostela or the Basilica of el Pilar in Zaragoza. In post-Gothic styles, Spanish cathedrals departed from the usual Latin-cross shape and developed more open designs (such as in the neo-classical cathedral of Cádiz). A handful of Spanish cathedrals contain touches of modern architecture. The Almudena Cathedral in Madrid was not finished until 1993, and the completed church is decorated with much more modern designs than other cathedrals in the country. The construction was typically financed with the diocese mains, with royal or episcopal contributions, or with donations from the faithful. Because of this, many of the wealthier dioceses were able to construct more lavish cathedrals.

Today the cathedrals of Spain draw visitors from around the world each year, forming a significant part of the country's tourist trade.