Almudena Cathedral

You’ve seen it from afar, and now you’ve finally arrived before the beautiful Almudena Cathedral. Unlike the grand cathedrals found in most major cities, this one is relatively young. Standing opposite the Royal Palace, its construction began in 1883 and wasn’t completed until 1993, when it was consecrated by Pope John Paul II, a rare honour for a cathedral outside of Rome. Today, it’s the seat of the Diocese of Madrid. The idea of building a cathedral in the capital dates back to the 16th century, under the reign of Philip II. At the time, Madrid was still part of the Diocese of Toledo. However, the king was so focused on his grand Escorial project that the cathedral was never built. In the following century, Spain’s economy was too weak to finance a major religious endeavour. It wasn’t until the 19th century that King Alfonso XII laid the first stone of a new church, after the destruction of the former Church of Santa María de la Almudena. In 1885, the Pope created the Diocese of Madrid, and the church officially became a cathedral. It’s a unique building, whose mix of styles reflects its long construction. From the outside, it’s neoclassical, and inside, it’s mostly neo-Gothic. At first, the cathedral was designed in full neo-Gothic style, following the trend of the time, but work was paused for many years and only resumed in 1950. The architects chose to continue with a neoclassical style, to match the Royal Palace across the square. The inside is well worth a visit. You’ll see a patchwork of styles — colourful geometric designs painted across the ceilings, modern stained-glass windows, and a central dome, all designed by the same artist. The dome features the four elements — earth, air, fire, and water — holding up the celestial vault. Here’s a local legend: when King Alfonso VI of León took Madrid from the Moors in 1083, he became obsessed with finding a sacred image of the Virgin Mary that had supposedly been hidden away centuries earlier. Despite his efforts, nothing turned up — until he prayed. That’s when part of the wall is said to have collapsed, revealing the icon. You’ll find a niche marking the spot of this miracle just outside the cathedral, with a statue of the Virgin.