Cathedral of Saint Mary (Palma de Mallorca)
The Cathedral of St. Mary, or La Seu as it is known in Majorcan, is one of the most important cathedrals belonging to the Crown of Aragon. It is also the most prominent in Palma de Mallorca and one of the oldest in the Mediterranean. The term Seu or Seo was the name that cathedrals received in the Crown of Aragon.
The construction of this cathedral began in 1229 as a declaration of principles to celebrate the conquest of the island by the Crown of Aragon under the command of Jaime I, snatching it from the Muslims. The work lasted for centuries until it was completed in 1601, with continuous reforms and modifications.
Of unmistakable Levantine Gothic style, the temple also presents Renaissance details that differ significantly from the French model, which was the architectural reference of the time. It employs a German-style hall plan but maintains the classic design of the central nave, of enormous height and dimensions typical of the Middle Ages.
The temple is colossal in every sense, covering an area of more than 6,600 square meters. It is 55 meters wide and 121 meters long. Also, it has a vault 45 meters high, which is the third largest in the world, surpassed only by the vault of the Cathedral of Beauvais (48 meters) and the vault of the Cathedral of Milan (a little more than 45 meters).
The most outstanding feature of the Cathedral of St. Mary is its spectacular rose window, which is 13 meters in diameter—the largest in existence from the Gothic period. Also, it presents one of the tallest and most spacious naves of all those existing in Europe during that period.
Due to its inestimable heritage and artistic value, the Cathedral of St. Mary in Palma de Mallorca was declared a Historical-Artistic Monument in 1931.
The construction of this cathedral began in 1229 as a declaration of principles to celebrate the conquest of the island by the Crown of Aragon under the command of Jaime I, snatching it from the Muslims. The work lasted for centuries until it was completed in 1601, with continuous reforms and modifications.
Of unmistakable Levantine Gothic style, the temple also presents Renaissance details that differ significantly from the French model, which was the architectural reference of the time. It employs a German-style hall plan but maintains the classic design of the central nave, of enormous height and dimensions typical of the Middle Ages.
The temple is colossal in every sense, covering an area of more than 6,600 square meters. It is 55 meters wide and 121 meters long. Also, it has a vault 45 meters high, which is the third largest in the world, surpassed only by the vault of the Cathedral of Beauvais (48 meters) and the vault of the Cathedral of Milan (a little more than 45 meters).
The most outstanding feature of the Cathedral of St. Mary is its spectacular rose window, which is 13 meters in diameter—the largest in existence from the Gothic period. Also, it presents one of the tallest and most spacious naves of all those existing in Europe during that period.
Due to its inestimable heritage and artistic value, the Cathedral of St. Mary in Palma de Mallorca was declared a Historical-Artistic Monument in 1931.
Location
What to see in Palma de Mallorca
