Thursday, November 13, 2014

Almudena Cathedral, Madrid - Spain

On May 22, 2004, the marriage of the spanish kings, Felipe VI and Letizia Ortiz, took place at the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. It was the forst royal wedding in this cathedral. 
The 1st card was sent by Ara and the 2nd by Rita. 

© Del O.K. Corral * Fotografia: Félix Jesus Corral
When the capital of Spain was transferred from Toledo to Madrid in 1561, King Felipe II he wanted a cathedral for his new capital.
Plans were discussed as early as the 16th century to build a cathedral in Madrid dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena, but construction did not begin until 1879. 
The site on which Almudena Cathedral now stands was originally occupied by Madrid's first mosque, then by a church dedicated to one of Madrid's patron saints, Santa María de la Almudena. 

Francisco de Cubas designed and directed the construction in a Gothic revival style. Construction ceased completely during the Spanish Civil War, and the project was abandoned until 1950, when Fernando Chueca adapted the plans of de Cubas to a Baroque exterior. The Cathedral was not completed until 1993, when it was consecrated by Pope John Paul II. 
The Cathedral is 104 m long and 76 m wide. The central dome has a diameter of 20 m. The building is situated adjacent to the Royal Palace, in front of "Plaza de Armas" of the Palace, on the south side. 
The bright interior of Almudena Cathedral is based in the Neo-Gothic style, that it is uniquely modern, with chapels and statues of contemporary artists, in heterogeneous styles, from historical revivals to "pop-art" decor. - in: http://www.madridtourist.info/almudena_cathedral.html

1 comment:

Kinga On Tour said...

Number two looks very great :)