| What makes it historical? |
Originally a Roman cathedral built between 1080 and 1095 AD, then the royal residence of the kings of Castilla, this building was donated to the Catholic church by King Alfonso VI and was the scene where Fernando III married, Elizabeth of Swabia, cousin to Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II.
It was this same San Fernando Rey de España, working with French architect, Maestro Enrique, who started construction on the Iberian Peninsula’s first Gothic cathedral, modeled after Notre Dame de Paris, on July 20, 1221! It opened for the first time in 1230, but construction continued for another 30 years when it was consecrated. Very much a living building, the Cathedral continued to receive additions and makeovers for the next 309 years!
This cathedral once housed the thumb of St. Peter and select bones of Saints Paul and James, but today, it only houses the remains of legendary warrior, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, otherwise known as “El Cid!” |
