Main nave and altar in 2021, after extensive restoration works
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 fortress church, 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.
The cathedral closed down to the public in 1994 after a partial collapse of a vault and major structural damages were found. It is being restored since then within the project of the Santa Maria Cathedral Foundation, which manages guided tours and is in charge of restoration works.[3]
^"Iglesia Catedral de Santa María". Consulta a la base de datos de bienes inmuebles (in Spanish). Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
