The Cathedral of Saint Mary the Royal of the Almudena, commonly known as the Almudena Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral in Madrid, Spain. It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Madrid. Its construction began in 1883 and finished over a century later, when it was consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1993.

It is located opposite the Royal Palace and much of its final appearance was defined considering this regal surrounding. In 1946 Ramón González Barrón was appointed choirmaster at the cathedral.

Construction was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War, and the site lay abandoned until 1950, when adapted the plans of de Cubas to a baroque exterior to match the grey and white façade of the Palacio Real that stands directly opposite. Its patron saints are Santa María la Real de la Almudena and Saint Isidro Labrador.

On 22 May 2004, the marriage of King Felipe VI, then crown prince, to Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano took place at the cathedral.

The Neo-Gothic interior is uniquely modern, with chapels and statues of contemporary artists, in heterogeneous styles, from historical revivals to "pop-art" decor. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel features mosaics by Fr. Marko Ivan Rupnik. The icons in the apse were painted by Kiko Argüello, artist and founder of the Neocatechumenal Way.

The Neo-Romanesque crypt houses a 16th-century image of the Virgen de la Almudena. Nearby along the Calle Mayor, excavations have unearthed remains of Moorish and medieval city walls.

Notable burials

People buried at Almudena Cathedral include:

  • Her Majesty Mercedes of Orléans, Queen of Spain (1860–1878)
  • His Highness Prince Ferdinand of Bavaria (1884–1958)
  • His Highness Jose Eugenio, Prince of Bavaria (1909–1966)
  • His Highness Luis Alfonso, Prince of Bavaria (1906–1983)
  • Her Highness Doña María de la Asunción Solange de Mesía y de Lesseps, Princess of Bavaria and Countess of Odiel (1911–2005)
  • Carmen Franco, 1st Duchess of Franco (1926–2017)
  • Cristóbal Martínez-Bordiú, 10th Marquess of Villaverde (1922–1998)
  • Francisco de Cubas, I Marquess of Cubas (1826–1899)
  • Francisco de Cubas y Erice, II Marquess of Cubas, II Marquess of Fontalba and Grandee of Spain (1868–1937)
  • Estanislao de Urquijo y Landaluce, I Marquess of Urquijo (1817–1889)
  • Estanislao de Urquijo y Ussía, III Marquess of Urquijo (1872–1948)
  • Isabel de Maltrana y de Novales, I Marquise de Maltrana (d. 1919)
  • Luis de Pedroso y Madan, V Count of San Esteban de Cañongo (1876–1952)
  • María Dolores de Pedroso y Sturdza, VI Countess of San Esteban de Cañongo
  • Margarita de Pedroso y Sturdza, VII Countess of San Esteban de Cañongo (1911–1989)
  • Cardinal Ángel Suquía Goicoechea (1916–2006)
  • Fernando Rielo Pardal (1923–2004)
  • Alfonso Peña Boeuf (1888–1966)
  • Enrique María Repullés (1845–1922)

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Madrid. Catedral de la Almudena 5.jpg|Cathedral as seen from Royal Palace of Madrid

Catedral de la Almudena, Madrid, España, 2014-12-27, DD 26.JPG|Nave looking toward the sanctuary

Almudena Madrid May 2014-11a.jpg|Interior of the square cupola

Catedral de la Almudena, Madrid, España, 2014-12-27, DD 32.JPG|Nave Vault

Catedral de la Almudena, Madrid, España, 2014-12-27, DD 28.JPG|The organ

Catedral_de_la_Almudena,_Madrid,_España,_2014-12-27,_DD_27.JPG|Rear view of the main altar

Catedral de la Almudena, Madrid, España, 2014-12-27, DD 21.JPG|Bell towers with Royal Palace in the background

Cripta de la Catedral de la Almudena, Madrid, España, 2014-12-27, DD 43.JPG|The crypt

31659-Madrid_(35598298301).jpg|Tomb of Queen María de las Mercedes of Orleans

Almudena_2022_-_virgin_chapel.jpg|Altar to the Virgin of Almudena

Catedral_Santa_María_la_Real_de_la_Almudena,Madrid,Comunidad_de_Madrid,España._(8542193919).jpg|Sarcophagi of Saint Isidore the Laborer

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See also

  • Catholic Church in Spain
  • List of tallest domes

References

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