Phone: 969224626

Website: www3.planalfa.es/dioce...

Location

In the Plaza Mayor

Type of monument

Religious Architecture

History

Cuenca Cathedral, a symbol of ecclesiastic power, was the first building they began to build after the conquest of the city, on the site of the old Muslim Castle. According to Lampérez, who restored the facade, it is the clearest example of the Cuencan proto-gothic, and is considered the earliest example of Gothic architecture in Spain.

We might initially be surprised by the sheer magnitude of its dimensions, which are excessively grand, considering the size of the population and the cities modest economy in that era, although as it is now surrounded and masked by later buildings it may not be immediately apparent.

It is, however, a magnificent work and possibly the most influential in the development of Gothic Castilla-La Mancha. This influence is clearest in Toledo Cathedral, where it can be seen in every aspect of the construction, with the exception of two features: the placing of the choir in the centre of the main nave, and not in the chancel as was customary in French cathedrals, and in the audacious design of the colonnaded passage.

It is a complicated building with some traces of the transition from Romanesque to Gothic in the late-12th century, others from the 13th century and yet more from the 15th century. There has been much discussion of the influences. For some, the six-sided vaults are evidence of influence from the Cistercians of Burgundy; for others, the use of the double transept, saw-tooth decoration and the square lantern tower, are all evidence of English influence.

Period

17th century.

Art style

Gothic

Special trips

Main facade, triforium, portico of the chapel of the Apóstoles, communion rail grille, font, sepulchres of the first Bishops of Cuenca, main sacristy and museum.

Surroundings

Castle, Tribunal of the Inquisition, Episcopal Palace, Church of San Miguel, Plaza Mayor, Casas Colgadas (Hanging Houses).

How to get there

Road transport

Building work started on Cuenca Cathedral in 1182, thanks to the jealousy of Bishop San Julián and the protection received from King Alfonso VIII, and it was consecrated in 1208 by Archbishop Ximénez de Rada when only the main chapel and part of the transept had been finished, the rest of the building was completed in 1271, under the reign of Alfonso X.

It has a Latin cross floor plan with three naves and only one in the transept, and a seven-sided polygonal apse.

The building work had to pass through three distinct stages. The first, is the oldest part, in Norman-gothic, with some Romanesque reminiscences such as the use of the square ciborium and the open triforium, which is unique in Spain, it’s decoration contrasting with the power of the vaults.
In a second phase the body of the church was built, starting with the transept. The work was completed in 1271, and the renovation of the chancel began, destroying the original and replacing it with a wide colonnaded passage which is nothing less than a late imitation of the brilliant design thought up by Petrus Petri’s for Toledo Cathedral.

The series of chapels that cover the lateral naves were built in the 16th and 17th centuries. Of particular note are those of los Apóstoles, los Albornoz (with Lemosín metalwork), el Espíritu Santo (built in the 16th century by Andrea Rodi as a mausoleum for the Marquis de Cañete) and los Caballeros; as well as the sacred rooms, such as the Sacristy and the Chapterhouse, the doors to which are the work of Berruguete and also have magnificent 15th century grilles.

It is also worth mentioning the Screen, a baroque work by Ventura Rodríguez, that contains the Main Altar and the sepulchre of San Julián. It is an altar dressed with marble and jaspers, with gilded bronze ornamentation, and the altar sides are covered with bas-reliefs of scenes of the life of San Julián. On the door we see the truncated arches typical of the baroque, crowned with images of Hope and Charity, by the same artist.

The cloister is accessed from inside via the singular Jamete Arch, the most famous work of the sculptor Esteban Jamete; or directly from the street from one of its sides. Made of slate stonework, it is a two storey square structure separated by a classical entablature with triglyphs and metopes. The ground floor has semicircular arches on pillars that were closed in the 18th century by José Martín de Aldehuela with an exquisite neoclassical composition; and the second storey, of Doric pillars, highlighted with frames and decorative alcoves. The work, started by Andrea Rodi using designs by Vandelvira, was continued by Pedro de Aguirre and Pedro de Abril.

None of the four church towers remain, although the base of the Ángel tower is still there, a product of the first phase of construction. The collapse, in 1902, of the Giraldillo Tower affected the facade of the temple, which was rebuilt in its current Neogothic state with three access doors.

The last transformation was the installation of glasswork by contemporary artists: G. Torner, A. Bonifacio, H. Dechanet y G. Rueda.

Timetables

From 1st July to 30th September, Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm. Sundays, 4pm to 6.30pm.
From 1st October to 30th June, Monday to Sunday, 10:30pm 1:30pm and 4pm to 6pm.

Fees

Admission: €2.80
Concessions: €2