Cathedral of Zamora, Spain
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The Cathedral of Zamora stands above the right bank of the Duero in the southern and rather higher part of the old town, and is still surrounded by its old walls and gates.
Built between 1151 and 1174 in Zamora, it is one of the finest examples of Spanish Romanesque architecture. Elements were added to the cathedral over the years and include Gothic features (such as apses and a sanctuary), as well as a cloister constructed in the syle of Juan de Herrera. The building has three naves, a transept and three semicircular apses. Its base has 16 double arches that support a dome with four corner turrets, which is the symbol of the city of Zamora. It has only one square-based belltower.
On the south side of the church, facing the 'Palacio Episcopal' (Bishop's Palace), is the richly sculptured Puerta del Obispo (Bishop's Doorway).
Notable features of the interior are the fine dome and the choir-stalls constructed in 1480 by Rodrigo Alemán, carved not only with figures of saints and famous men of antiquity but also with vigorous and earthy scenes of country life. The Capilla Major has a beautiful marble table, and the high altar is flanked by two Mudéjar pulpits. In the Capilla del Cristo de las Injurias, which is found to the right of the south doorway, is a large figure of Christ by Gaspar Becerra. The Cathedral contains numerous tombs; particularly notable is the filigree carving on tomb of Dr Grado in the Capilla de San Juan at east end. Capilla del Cardenal, also at the east end, has an altar by Fernando Gallego.
It is one of the most important examples of Romanesque architecture in Spain.[citation needed]
[edit] Cathedral Museum
The Cathedral Museum, in the 17th Century cloister, is notable particularly for its fine Flemish tapestries of the 15th-17th centuries depicting scenes from the Trojan War, Hannibal's Italian campaign and the life of Tarquin, the Etruscan king of Rome. Another treasure is a Late Gothic monstrance of 1515.
