The Cathedrals of Northern Spain / Their History and Their Architecture; Together with Much of Interest Concerning the Bishops, Rulers and Other Personages Identified with Them

by Charles Rudy

• See dedicated to Saviour and San Toribio.
• Legendary (?) erection of see, 1st century (oldest in peninsula).
• First historical bishop, Dominiciano, 347 A. D.
• During Arab invasion see was being continually destroyed and rebuilt.
• [{370}]
• 1069, first cathedral (on record) was erected.
• 1120, second cathedral was erected.
• XIIIth century, third cathedral was erected.
• 1471, fourth (present) cathedral was begun; terminated XVIth century.
• XVth and XVIth century ogival; imitation of that of Leon.
• Chief attractions: Northern front, plateresque retablo.

AVILA

• Dedicated to San Salvador.
• First bishop (legendary?), San Segundo, in Ist century.
• See destroyed during Arab invasion.
• First bishop after Reconquest, Jeronimo in XIth century.
• Date of foundation and erection unknown.
• Legendary foundation, 1091; finished in 1105 (?).
• Late XIIth century Spanish Gothic fortress church.
• Apse XIIth century; transept XIVth century.
• Western front XVth century; tower late XIVth century.
• Width of transept and of nave, 30 feet.
• Width of aisles, 25 feet.
• Chief attractions: Exterior of apse, nave and transept with rose windows, tomb of Bishop Tostada.

BURGOS

• See dedicated to the Holy Mary and Son.
• Bishopric erected, 1075; archbishopric, 1085.
• First bishop, Don Simón; first archbishop, Gomez II.
• Present cathedral begun, 1221.
• First holy mass celebrated in altar-chapel, 1230.
• Building terminated 300 years later (1521).
• XIIIth-XIVth century Spanish ogival.
• Length (excluding Chapel of Condestable), 273 feet.
• Length of transept, 195 feet; width, 32 feet.
• Height of lantern crowning croisée, 162 feet.
• Height of western front, 47 feet.[{371}]
• Height of towers, 273 feet; width at base, 19 feet.
• Width of nave, 31 feet; of aisles, 19 feet.
• Chief attractions: The ensemble, interior decoration, lantern on croisée, the Chapel of the Condestable, choir, high altar, etc. (With that of Toledo, the richest cathedral in Spain.)

CALAHORRA

• See dedicated to San Emeterio and San Celedonio, martyrs.
• Bishopric erected Vth century; first bishop, Silvano.
• Daring Arab invasion see removed to Oviedo (750).
• Removed to Alava in IXth century; in Xth century, to Nájera.
• In 1030, moved again to Calahorra; first bishop, Don Sancho.
• Since XIXth century, one bishop appointed to double see Calahorra-Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
• This double see to be removed to Logroño.
• Cathedral begun in XIIth century; terminated in XIVth century.
• XIIIth century Gothic (body of church only).
• Western front of a much later date.
• Chief attraction: Choir-stalls.

CIUDAD RODRIGO

• See dedicated to the Virgin and Child.
• Origin of bishopric in Calabria under Romans (legendary?).
• Foundation of city in 1150; erection of see, 1170.
• First bishop, Domingo, 1170.
• See nominally suppressed in 1870; in reality the suppression has not taken place as yet.
• Cathedral church begun toward 1160.
• XIIth century Romanesque-Gothic edifice.
• Tower and western front date from XVIIIth century.
• Lady-chapel from XVIth century.
• Building suffered considerably from French in 1808.
• Chief attractions: Romanesque narthex, cloister, choir-stalls, Romanesque doors leading into transept.[{372}]

CORIA