Top 8 Ancient and Famous Churches in Spain

Sagrada Família Church construction commenced in 1882. Today, it has become an iconic symbol of Barcelona, known worldwide and visited by millions.

The master of Catalan modernism, Antoni Gaudí, dedicated himself to building this church. A towering masterpiece in the Gothic architectural style. Even after, he couldn't complete it; Gaudí is known for saying, 'My client (God) is not in a hurry.' Sagrada Família Church is funded by private donations, still under construction, and expected to be completed by 2026.

This is not only Gaudí's most recognized work but also his best. However, the original architect was Francesc del Paula Villar, who was replaced after disagreements with church supporters. When Gaudí took over, he completely transformed it. Instead of the original neo-Gothic style, he aimed for something more creative. Although the church has Gothic architectural elements, there are many unique details, resulting in a captivating and utterly unique structure.

Gaudí's main goal for Sagrada Família was to teach people about Catholicism through architecture. The best place to see this is outside the church. The four towers symbolize the 12 apostles, and the intricately carved façade symbolizes the life of Jesus; from birth, death to resurrection. The interior of this church is equally remarkable; from nearly smooth white stone columns to vibrant stained-glass windows.

Especially, the architecture built by Gaudí was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2005. The Construction Board hopes to complete the project by 2026, marking the centenary of his death.

Address: de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona, Spain

In 1777, a fire destroyed the ancient temple adjacent to the Holy Cave - where Our Lady of Covadonga is venerated. Later, a decision was made to build a new church as a grand shrine, funded by contributions from across Spain. This plan faced opposition from the local council, as clergy members wanted to reconstruct the temple of the Holy Cave along with an ambitious conservation area designed by Ventura Rodríguez but never completed. A century later, the project was revived by King Alfonso XII, who was deeply committed to its completion. The classical design of Ventura Rodríguez was difficult and costly, replaced by a Neo-Romanesque design. This new project was conceived by Roberto Frassinelli - known as the German of Corao. However, he was replaced by Federico Aparici y Soriano - who studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando. Despite this decision, Frassinelli still supervised the construction work.

The Holy Shrine of Santa Maria La Real De Covadonga exhibits excellent unity in the standards of Romanesque style in which it was formed, although it also incorporates elements of Gothic architecture. The church has three naves, with the central nave significantly higher than the two exterior ones, featuring a transversal nave and a top tower. The entrance is formed by a front vaulted gate in the middle nave, with three crescent-shaped domes above serving as a balcony. Throughout the church, a prominent light pink color contrasts with the green landscape due to the type of limestone. Inside, the most remarkable is the image of Our Lady placed on the main altar - a work by 19th-century sculptor Juan Samsó.

Additionally, The Holy Shrine of Santa Maria La Real De Covadonga impresses with a large bell three meters high, built in 1900 in La Felguera. It weighs 4,000 kg and was donated by the Italian Count-Sizzo Noris. A monument with the Victory Cross, built in 1857 by Philippe d'Orléans - Duke of Montpensier. As the story goes, it is the place where the first king of Asturias, Pelagius, was crowned. Finally, a bronze statue of Pelagius, made by Eduardo Zaragoza in 1964.

Address: Covadonga, Cangas de Onís, Spain

Regarded as the first Gothic cathedral in Spain, Ávila Cathedral

Ávila Cathedral boasts a clearly defined Burgundian style, situated on a Latin cross layout formed by three central bays. It is enveloped at the base by two square towers (the right tower remains unfinished, and the left tower is completed with Merlon panels and narrow windows). The structure is covered by a vaulted roof with grooves atop half-columns attached to mid-columns separating the central bays, reinforced by pointed arches.

Noteworthy is a two-bodied stained glass window with a noticeable height difference between the central bays. This window suffered damage in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and underwent replacement. The first section of the tower and central bays date back to the 13th century. The second section of the tower, a monastery (completed in the 16th century), and vaults and flying buttresses are from the 14th century. The entrance gate (Door of the Apostles, from the 13th century) was dismantled and relocated to the north wall in the mid-15th century. Juan Guas is the author of the new door on the west side. The current roof was placed on the original Granite roof in 1578 after the side walls were constructed with bricks. The construction was completed in the late 16th - early 17th century, with the addition of several prayer houses.

Address: Plaza de la Catedral, 8 05001 Ávila (Castilla y Leon), Spain

Named Toledo Cathedral, it seems to derive its name from its establishment in the 6th century by San Eugenio, the first Bishop of Toledo. However, the Moorish invasion transformed it into a mosque, known as La Mayor.

Upon the recapture of Toledo by King Alfonso VI, it was consecrated as a cathedral. Later, San Fernando ordered its destruction and laid the first stone in 1227. Toledo Cathedral features 5 central bays supported by 88 colossal columns, penetrating through. With over 750 stained glass windows from the 15th and 16th centuries, it adds exquisite beauty and perfect brightness to the interior. Outside, there are 5 magnificent doorways, three leading to the grand cathedral nave. However, its most remarkable elements showcasing grandeur and artistry are the altarpiece in the main prayer house by Rodrigo Alemán, Vigarni, Egas, and Pedro Gumiel. It comprises five bodies portraying scenes from the New Testament with life-sized polychrome sculptures, crafted in wood and gold leaf. Commissioned by Cardinal Cisneros from 1497 to 1504.

Accompanying this is the St. James' prayer house from the 15th century, in a Splendid style, also the resting place of the Supreme General Álvaro de Luna and his wife Juana de Pimentel. The choral stalls include 72 seats crafted by Alonso de Berruguete and Felipe Vigarni, coming from Burgundy in 1540. Above is the genealogy of Christ according to the Gospels, below are the Saints of the cathedral. The passage leading to the Holy chamber is an entrance to a true museum with works by renowned artists like Jordan, Caxés, Ricci. Particularly impressive is the room 'El Ochavo' - a luxurious space since the late 16th century; with an octagonal floor, part of the Sacrarium cathedral. Here houses a collection of intriguing works such as the relic of St. Luis and half-body statues of St. Juan Bautista, La Cruz, or Cardinal Mendoza.

Address: Calle Cardenal Cisneros, 1, 45002 Toledo, Spain

Segovia Cathedral is an impressive Gothic-style cathedral towering over the town of Segovia, Castile Leon, Spain. Constructed from 1525 to 1577 during the reign of King Charles V, it stands as the last Gothic-style cathedral in Spain. The building process followed the destruction of the city's original cathedral during battles between the Castilian royal army and the commune, who occupied the cathedral to protect relics.

After a prolonged siege, the cathedral was damaged. The new cathedral was relocated and designed by Juan Gil de Hontanon, featuring three tall vaults with intricate stained glass windows. The late Gothic-style interior, however, had its vault added in 1630. The stone tower is also an addition from 1614, replacing the original wooden Gothic tower destroyed by a storm - a symbol of Iberian presence in the Americas, once the tallest tower in Spain.

Segovia Cathedral was consecrated when an Italian marble and bronze altar was completed in 1768, during Spain's Enlightenment encouraged by Benedictine monk-Benito Feijoo, though later suppressed in the 1770s by the Inquisition and anti-Jesuit courts.

Impressive with a 90-meter tower and refined religious artworks, including Juan de Juni's 'Lamentation of God's Death,' Flemish painter Ambrosius Benson's 'Triptych of the Three Legs,' and José de Churriguera's altar. Inside the monastery, designed by García de Cubillas, features a stunning copper ceiling carved in 1559, along with a collection of Flemish tapestries depicting images of Queen Zenobia of Palmyra. Today, Segovia Cathedral is part of the historic Segovia street and a UNESCO-recognized World Heritage site.

Address: Plaza Mayor, s/n, 40001 Segovia, Spain

Seville Cathedral (Santa Maria de la Sede) is the world's largest Gothic cathedral, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

The construction of this cathedral spanned over a century, from 1401 to 1506. It occupies the site of the grand Aljama Mosque built in the late 12th century by the Almohads during Moorish rule. The only remaining parts are Patio de Naranjas, Puerta del Perdon (located on Calle Alemanes to the north), and Giralda (formerly a small tower, now a bell tower).

The central nave of Seville Cathedral rises to 42 meters, with 80 chapels. The total area covers 11,520m2, and recent calculations based on volume measurements have now placed it ahead of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady Aparecida in Brazil, making it the largest cathedral in the world. However, this remains a debated topic as many argue it is only the third largest in the world.

The grand scale and magnificence are certainly the cathedral's main features. Two outstanding qualities are the smooth rhythmic balance and interaction between parts and the simplicity, overall restraint, and impressive decor. Subsequent eras have left opulent monuments, each with its unique style, limited to two rows of chapels on the sides. In the main part of the cathedral, a structure resembling a large choir (choir) stands out, filling the central part of the nave.

Additionally, it is the resting place of the renowned explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus and Alfonso X of Castile, the 13th-century king of Castile, León, and Galicia.

Address: Av. de la Constitución, s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain

Initiated in 1080 by Alfonso VI, the king of the ancient Castile kingdom, to build a Romanesque-style cathedral in the city of Burgos (Santa María de Burgos Cathedral). In 1219, this cathedral held a significant ceremony for the Castile kingdom; it was the wedding of King Ferdinand III at that time and the German princess, Beatrice of Swabia (daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor - Frederick II of Swabia Hohenstaufen).

In the 13th century, Burgos was recognized as a bishopric and an important commercial center. Subsequently, Bishop Don Mauricio - who presided over the wedding ceremony of King Ferdinand III and Princess Beatrice - proposed to the king to build a new cathedral imitating the European stylistic trends. It would have grandeur to rival the neighboring Parisian Notre-Dame Cathedral.

As the Bishop had studied at the University of Paris, he was familiar with the prevailing styles in French architecture at that time. He had also undertaken a journey across the country to reach the Holy Roman Empire, where he arranged the marriage between the King of Castile and Princess Beatrice. That's why the Bishop leveraged his friendship with the king to build the first Gothic cathedral in Spain. The construction began in 1221, and it is said that the first architect was of French origin, as the pure Gothic style was not well known in Spain.

It was completed nearly 40 years later. But in the following years, the cathedral underwent renovations and expansions until 1765. That is why today, Burgos Cathedral also incorporates various art styles. For example, Baroque-style constructions like the Main Chapel, Santa Tecla Chapel, and the historic cloister have been added. Previous additions include popular innovative works such as the Constables' cloister, the spires at the top, and the central lantern tower above the transept's crossing, replaced in the 16th century with the current one.

In 1885, Burgos Cathedral was officially recognized as a National Monument, aiding its recovery after being plundered by the French army during the War of Independence. In 1984, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Address: Plaza de Santa María, Burgos, Spain

In the 9th century, Bishop Teodomiro of Iria Flavia identified a small Romanesque temple with the tomb of Saint James the Apostle. As a result of this discovery, King Alfonso II “The Chaste” ordered the construction of a modest church around that religious site. The increasing pilgrimages and a certain stability after the attacks of the Arabs led to the commencement of a new construction in 1075, under the reign of King Alfonso VI and the guidance of Archbishop Diego de Peláez. The construction of the Romanesque-style church began, continued during the period of Archbishop Diego Gelmírez, and did not cease until it became a grand cathedral as we see it today.

The Santiago Main Cathedral is built with Granite stone with a gable roof made of similar material. The construction follows a Latin-cross floor plan, in the Romanesque style. Auxiliary chapels are arranged throughout the interior with individual spaces.

For centuries, thousands of pilgrims from around the world have found their way to this place. Right here, in a tomb beneath the main altar, is where they can visit the grave of Saint James, preserved in a silver urn, along with the graves of his disciples Saint Athanasius and Saint Theodore. Besides being one of the most important pilgrimage sites globally, the Santiago Main Cathedral is also a magnificent work of art and religious architecture.

While the basic medieval structure is still preserved, over the centuries, it has undergone changes in appearance due to the construction of the monastery and its ancillary areas. In the Renaissance period, especially during the Baroque era, works such as the main cloister, offices, and the Obradoiro façade were executed. In the Neoclassical period, the new Azabachería façade was also carried out. And for over 100 years, various activities have continued at the Santiago Main Cathedral.

Address: Av. de la Constitución, s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain