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The Almudena Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena) is the cathedral of Madrid. It was built between 1883 and 1993 and was consecrated by Pope John Paul II. The city had been without a cathedral since the capital moved from Toledo in 1561.
The cathedral faces opposite the Royal Palace of Madrid. It has a gray and white façade to match the palace.
East Entrance
The main entrance for tourists is on the east side of the building. One thing to pay attention to before entering are the massive bronze doors. They have impressive relief figures on them.
The largest door, in the center, represents the consecration of the cathedral on July 15, 1993, by Pope John Paul II. The door on the righthand side depicts the procession of the Virgen of Almudena through the streets of Madrid every November 9. The door on the left side represents the discovery of the Virgin of Almudena by King Alfonso VI in 1085.
Interior
Inside the cathedral is a cavernous neo-Gothic interior with tall columns and a square dome. The floor plan of the church takes the shape of a Latin cross.
There are some interesting Byzantine-style murals above the main altar. They were painted by Kiko Argüello. The table of the altar was carved out of green marble.
To the right of the main altar is the altar of the Virgin of Almudena (La Virgen de la Almudena), a medieval image of the Virgin Mary. It can be reached via two stairways on either side. Underneath the chapel is the tomb of María de las Mercedes (1860-1878), Queen of Spain for only six months.
There are also several chapels as well as a huge organ at the foot of the church. Stained glass windows add some life to the building.
Extras
To enhance your visit to the Almudena Cathedral, it’s worth taking a self-guided tour of the museum and rooftop terrace, which ends with a visit to the interior of the church. You can also visit the Neo-Romanesque crypt. The entrance is located at the rear of the building.
