In Almería
Cathedral of Almería: a 16th-century Fortified Church
During the 15th and 16th centuries, Almeria was frequently attacked by Berber pirates and needed buildings that could provide a safe haven to the local people. It is not surprising to see many of the civil and religious buildings from those periods designed with a certain military-like fashion. The Cathedral of Almeria is an example of this. Located in the old quarter of the town, it was built at the beginning of the 16th century as a place of worship and refuge. The imposing battlements, turrets and buttresses were built in true robust military style. It is the only building in all of Andalusia to present such features. In fact, it is one of the rare examples of this type of architecture in all of Spain. The Cathedral of Almeria also stands out for its rich artistic heritage and its location in one of the most picturesque and liveliest squares in the city. The legion of lush, towering palm trees huddle around the square, contrasting beautifully with the ochre-coloured cathedral and creating a modern-day urban refuge.
In 1522, only thirty years after the Catholic Monarchs had conquered Almeria, a terrible earthquake completely destroyed the city’s church. The construction of a new church was commissioned by the Bishop of Almeria, Fray Diego de Villalán, and the new temple needed to be worthy to be the seat of the Diocese of Almeria. It was originally designed by the architect Diego de Siloé but it was completed by Juan de Orea. The cathedral was conceived to serve as a fortress in order to defend the population against frequent raids and attacks perpetrated by pirates and rebelling moriscos. It was officially completed in 1564 and represents an amalgamation of architectural styles from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The original Gothic-Renaissance design converges with baroque and neoclassical features that were later added. We can thank the renowned Spanish architect Ventura Rodríguez for the beautiful neo-classical additions.
This is well worth a visit if you are in Almeria and why not stay at the Hotel Catedral that sits alongside this magnificent building. A beautiful hotel to stay to explore Almeria city Telephone: 950 278 178 Book at reservas@hotelcatedral.net
