Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria
| Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria | |
|---|---|
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Native name Spanish: Catedral de Santa María de Vitoria | |
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| Location | Vitoria, Spain |
| Coordinates | 42°51′02″N 2°40′21″W / 42.850689°N 2.672431°WCoordinates: 42°51′02″N 2°40′21″W / 42.850689°N 2.672431°W |
| Official name: Catedral de Santa María de Vitoria | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 1931[1] |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0000359 |
  Location of Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria in Spain | |
The Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria (Spanish: Catedral de Santa María de Vitoria) is a cathedral located in Vitoria, Spain. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1931.[1]
The Cathedral of Santa María rises majestically in the city's old part. It was built in the late 13th century and all throughout the 14th century. Of Gothic style, it was conceived as a church-fortress, with great volume and enclosed appearance, being part of the city's defences.
Between 1496 and 1861, the building operated as a collegiate church, and it was that year when it was declared a cathedral. It has a Latin-cross plan, with a wide transept crossing and circular apse containing several chapels.
The facade's monumental sculptures are very relevant in artistic terms. The western portico is a true masterpiece divided into three portals: the central one consecrated to the Virgin, the left one dedicated to San Gil and the right one to the Final Judgement and Saint James.
Nowadays it is being restored within the project of the Santa Maria Cathedral Foundation, which manages guided tours and is in charge of restoration works. Visitors will enjoy gazing at live restoration and archeological works of this 13th-century sanctuary consisting of a complex structure and full of testimonies from the past. Architects, archaeologists, stonemasons, scaffolding and reinforcements paint the picture of this innovative project in cultural tourism.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Database of protected buildings (movable and non-movable) of the Ministry of Culture of Spain (Spanish).
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Cathedral of Santa María, Vitoria-Gasteiz (Old Cathedral). |