Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria

Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria
Native names Spanish: Catedral de Santa María de Vitoria Basque: Santa Maria katedrala
Location	Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Coordinates	42°51′02″N 2°40′21″W / 42.850689°N 2.672431°WCoordinates: 42°51′02″N 2°40′21″W / 42.850689°N 2.672431°W
Spanish Property of Cultural Interest
Official name: Santa Maria katedrala (eu) / Catedral de Santa María de Vitoria (es)
Type	Non-movable
Criteria	Monument
Designated	1931
Reference no.	RI-51-0000359
Location of Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria in Spain

The Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria (Basque: Santa Maria katedrala, Spanish: Catedral de Santa María de Vitoria) is a Gothic-style, Roman Catholic cathedral located in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque country, Spain. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1931.

History

Construction of the cathedral of Santa María in Gothic-style began in the late 13th century and continued throughout the 14th century. It was conceived as a church-fortress, with great volume and enclosed appearance, being part of the city's defences.

Between 1496 and 1861, the building operated as a collegiate church, and it was that year when it was declared a cathedral. It has a Latin-cross plan, with a wide transept crossing and circular apse containing several chapels.

The facade's portals are richly decorated with sculpture. The western portico is masterwork consisting of three portals: the central one consecrated to the Virgin, the left one dedicated to San Gil and the right one to the Final Judgement and Saint James.

Nowadays it is being restored within the project of the Santa Maria Cathedral Foundation, which manages guided tours and is in charge of restoration works.

References

External links

• Tourist info Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria