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Murcia is a big city, but still has a very relaxed atmosphere. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that a large part of the old city center is designed as a walking area. This makes it easier to soak up the rich historical and cultural heritage of the city in a casual way. And at the top of the list of important sights for many is the Santa Maria Cathedral.
Murcia's pride has a long history. It started at the end of the 14th century when construction started on the foundation of an old mosque. The location is not accidental. It was very common at the time to symbolically reject the time of the Moorish rulers. And what better way than to build on a site where a mosque once stood?
Although the cathedral was already completed in 1465, new elements were constantly added until the early 18th century. This makes the building a rich mix of divergent architectural concepts. For example, the exuberant facade is built in Baroque style, while the interior is dominated by the Gothic style.
The differences in architecture are most evident in the bell tower, which at 95 meters is the second highest in Spain. The tower was built in phases between 1521 and 1793. So it is not surprising that different architectural visions pass in review as visitors follow the five floors and 200 steps to the top. At the end, a magnificent panoramic view of the city awaits them. During the journey upwards we successively encounter style elements derived from Renaissance, Neo Classical, Baroque and Rococo.
The last changes came after a major fire in 1884. A neo-gothic altar and a majestic organ date back to the fire. The church also houses a museum with various religious objects from a sarcophagus from Roman times to the present. Information is also given about the mosque that once stood on the site, based on remains.
Due to its convenient downtown location, a visit to the cathedral can easily be combined with visits to other churches in the vicinity, such as the Santa Domingo church, the San Miguel church and the San Bartolome parish.
