Catedral de Ciudadela - Menorca, Spain
Posted by: 
manchanegra
N 40° 00.092 E 003° 50.243
31T E 571477 N 4428262
The Catedral Basílica de Santa María is the Cathedral of Menorca.
Waymark Code: WMC2P1
Location: Islas Baleares, Spain
Date Posted: 07/18/2011
Views: 7
The Originally called Catedral de la Purificacion de la Madre de Dios , the Catedral Basílica de Santa María is is the Cathedral of Ciudadela de Menorca.
It´s a gothic style temple built between the 13th and 14th centuries by orders of Alfonso III of Aragón after the conquest of the island from the muslims.
The cathedral was built over an ancient mosque what can be proved by observing the arches of the bell tower (the ancient minaret).
Alfonso III ordered the contruction only 45 días after the conquest of the city in 1287, but, the works only started in 1300 under the governement of Juan II, and ended on 1362.
there were many drawbacks like turkish atacks during the 17th century when the temple was burned or during Spanish civil war when all the ornaments, paintings and jewels were destroyed.The façade is neoclassical built in 1813 by orders of the Bishop Pedro Juano.
The church has a nave vault flanked by six chapels and a main altar with a canopy of 15 meters. After the altar is a pentagonal apse and on its side stands choir and the Episcopal Seats in marble, blessed by Pope Pius XII.
The highlight of it is the baroque chapel of the Souls from the 18th century.
The cathedral received the title of basilica in 1953, given by Pius XII.
Address:
Catedral Basílica de Santa María
Plaza de la Catedral
07760 Ciudadela
Religious affiliation: Catholic
Date founded or constructed: 1300/1/1
Web site: [Web Link]
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