DK Travel : Costa Blanca : Catedral de Santa María, Murcia

Catedral de Santa María, Murcia

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The Cathedral of Santa María looms proudly over the centre of Murcia. The finest Baroque building in a city overflowing with Baroque architecture, it also contains some spectacular examples of the Gothic and Renaissance styles. The first stone was laid on the site of a former Arab mosque in 1394, and the first mass was celebrated in the mid-15th century. The richly ornamented façade, with Corinthian columns, stone swoops and curves, and a dazzling array of sculpted saints, was built in the 18th century.
A faded casket behind the main altar contains the heart of the medieval king Alfonso X the Wise. In the cathedral museum, look out for a haunting 14th-century altarpiece and an extraordinary solid silver Baroque monstrance.

Top 10 Features

1. Baroque Façade

1. Baroque Façade

The spectacular main façade, with its ranks of Corinthian columns and lavishly carved stonework, was built from 1739–54 by architect Jaime Bort. It overlooks the lovely Plaza del Cardenal Belluga.
2. Puerta de los Apóstoles

2. Puerta de los Apóstoles

The elaborate Gothic portal on the southern side of the cathedral is set in a sea of sculpture, including images of the four apostles and a cloud of angelic musicians. Queen Isabella’s coat of arms crowns the portal – she gave generously toward the cathedral’s construction.
3. Puerta del Perdón

Surmounted by an exquisite sculpture of the Virgin Mary with angels, the central doorway of the main façade was once reserved for royalty.
4. Coro

The sumptuous stalls in the Gothic choir are densely carved with biblical scenes.
5. Capilla de los Vélez

5. Capilla de los Vélez

The jewel of the cathedral is the Capilla de los Vélez, the magnificent late 15th-century burial place of the powerful Marquises of Vélez. Look out for the “noble savages” – a fashionable motif after Columbus’s voyage to the Americas.
6. Capilla del Junterón

This dazzling chapel (another aristocratic burial place) is the grandest expression of Renaissance architecture in Murcia. Adorned with graceful saints and Classical figures, it contains a shimmering 16th-century altarpiece topped by a beautiful relief.
7. Puerta de la Sacristia

Baroque at its most flamboyant, this extravagant doorway is in the form of a splendid triumphal arch, with columns and pedestals supporting a host of cherubs surmounted by the three Virtues.
8. Altar Mayor

8. Altar Mayor

The vast main altarpiece forms a golden wall behind the main altar. Two exquisite dragons protrude from the centre of the grille.
9. Museo Catedralico

The newly expanded cathedral museum houses paintings, sculpture and ceremonial objects, including an extraordinary Baroque silver monstrance.
10. Bell Tower

10. Bell Tower

The delightful bell tower, with its Baroque frills and flounces, is an oddly harmonious mish-mash of styles.

Practical Information

A short walk from the cathedral, Los Zagales (C/Polo de Medina 4; 968 21 55 79) is a great place for tapas, with a crowd of locals permanently propping up the bar. The walls are covered with photos of famous footballers and bullfighters. Bring some €1 coins to illuminate the highlights of the cathedral interior, including the Choir, the Capilla de los Vélez and the Capilla del Junterón. Plaza del Cardenal Belluga 968 21 63 44 Open: 7am–1pm, 6–8pm (winter: 5–8pm) daily Free