The Cathedral of Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena , - the Cathedral of Madrid. Armory Square is located opposite the Royal Palace and dedicated to the Virgin Almudena .
The word in Arabic means a fortress or a base , because, according to legend, the figure of the Virgin Mary was found in the wall of an ancient Arab fortress.In Madrid, there was no cathedral, because it was not the center of the episcopacy.
April 4, 1884 Alfonso XII laid the foundation stone of the future of the cathedral, which was supposed to be the burial place of his first wife and cousin Maria de las Mercedes of Orleans and Bourbon , who died of tuberculosis at 6 months after the wedding.The initial draft of the neo-Gothic was made Marquis Francisco de Kubasov. In 1911 was opened for worship in the tomb of Neo-Romanesque style , quite dark, which is going to bury Maria de las Mercedes. It is important burial chapels of XIX century.And the left wing of the transept - a very interesting painting , done on plaster in the XVI century, Immaculate with fleur de lis .
Project Marques de Cubas was amended in 1944 by architects Charles and Fernando Chueca Cider - Goity . Construction of the cathedral was completed in 1993. His consecration by Pope John Paul II on 15 June 1993.Both facades are made in the neoclassical style erreresko and canopy height of 75 m , the creation of Chueca - Goity - in neobarochnom .
Inside the cathedral is very bright , neo-Gothic style with three naves and zaaltarnym passage. The plan has the shape of a Latin cross . The length of the nave - 99 m , the length of the transept - 65 pmDuring construction , used stone - sandstone , limestone and granite from Colmenar . The main altar is made of green marble Granada . Crucifixion XVII. , Which is crowned by an altar, made in the baroque style by Juan de Mesa. Remove clothing from the picture of Christ behind the altar painted in the XVII century Francisco Rizzi.Choir chairs walnut end of the XVI century, were moved here from the old church of St. Carmen.
The side chapel dedicated to saint of Madrid, some without any ornaments .The most important decorating the chapels of the cathedral - the figure of John the Baptist of the XVIII century the work of Michel , the first chapel to the right , the right wing of the transept - retablo Juan Burgundy beginning of XVI century , in the same period the figure of the Virgin Almudena , patron saint of the city. In zaaltarnom pass - a casket containing the remains of St. Isidro, interesting piece of XVIII century.with paintings of Christ and the Juan de Avalos lying . In the first chapel to the left - Christ tied to a post , Dzhakkomo of Colombo.
In May 2004, this church took place the wedding of Crown Prince Felipe and Leticia Ortiz presenter .
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