You've booked your
HOLIDAY RENTALS IN SPAIN this year and your chosen location is the capitol city of Madrid. One of the most interesting masterpieces among the many examples in the field of architecture is the Cathedral de la Almudena. This is one of those places you can't afford to miss while on your holiday. It's hard to believe that it took over one hundred years to complete this work of art and when finished it was finally consecrated in 1993 by Pope John Paul II.
In 1561 when Madrid was made the capital of Spain by King Philips II, a plan was conceived to build a cathedral in the city. This plan was soon scuppered due to the political turbulences that were present at the time when in actuality the archdiocese of Toledo was the power behind the disapproval of building a church in Madrid. At this time Toledo had a larger diocese than Madrid hence more powerful, but in 1868 the archdiocese in Toledo acquiesced. Madrid was finally able to build the church that was conceived some four hundred years earlier. This new church was built in honour of the city's patron saint Almudena, to whom the church was dedicated.
When construction started in 1883 Madrid was not yet a diocese which disallowed a cathedral but one year after the building work started Pope Leo XIII enabled Madrid to become a diocese. This new status made it possible to build a cathedral rather than a church. This transformation called for a new design that would make it comparable with the higher status of the building. The commission for a new design was awarded to Marques de Cubas who came up with a plan using a neo Gothic style which called for a ground plan forming a Latin cross.
Construction on the cathedral came to a complete halt due to the civil war in the 1930s but in 1944 the design of the cathedral came into question. The cathedral was situated near the Royal Palace which was built in a neo classical style that would be in direct contrast with the yet to be finished cathedral. The architects Fernando Chueca Goitia and Carlos Sidro came up with an acceptable design using more classical elements in the cathedral that was accepted by the commission making the cathedral fit in with the surrounding buildings. Even though the cathedral was officially declared finished in 1993, work continued until 1999. Today a statue of Pope John Paul II is stands in front of the cathedral honouring its consecration in 1993.
When you're staying in your
HOLIDAY RENTALS IN SPAIN take some time and visit this beautiful cathedral. Its size will amaze you; it is longer and wider than a football field with a central dome measuring 20 metres in diameter. If you have seen some of the other ornate Gothic cathedrals you will be surprised at the modern and simplistic interior but this cathedral is a work of art in its own right.
