Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, Spain – Front Facade Architecture

About the Picture

Picture of the Cathedral of Saint Mary the Royal of the Almudena and its architecture, front facade.

Construction of the cathedral began in 1879 but wasn’t completed until 1993, spanning over 100 years, dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena, patron saint of Madrid.

The cathedral was consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1993, you may find it interesting that it was the only Spanish cathedral consecrated by a pope. It combines neoclassical, neo-gothic, and neo-romanesque styles and unlike most cathedrals, it’s oriented north-south instead of east-west, commonly used direction.

It’s located next to the Royal Palace, making it easy to visit both landmarks, perfect for time-sensitive travelers as was I during my trip (catching two birds with one shot ;)).

The cathedral can be visited for free, and it’s beautiful inside, where modern stained glass windows depict scenes from Madrid’s history.

You will need only about 15-30 minutes to explore the Cathedral, quick and I would say a must-see, iconic landmark in Madrid, which is also located close to many other touristic attractions, and next to it is already mentioned the Royal Palace.

Feel free to download the shared image for free and use it within blog posts and articles you find fit for it.