Alcalá de Henares Cathedral

40°28′50″N 3°22′09″W / 40.480525°N 3.369258°W / 40.480525; -3.369258LocationAlcalá de HenaresAddress328, Plaza de los Santos NiñosCountrySpainDenominationCatholicWebsitevisitacatedraldealcala.comHistoryStatusCathedralDedicationJustus and PastorDedicated23 July 1991^[1]ArchitectureArchitect(s)Antón Egas, Enrique EgasStyleLate Gothic, MudéjarYears built1497—1516SpecificationsTower height62 m (203 ft 5 in)^[2]AdministrationMetropolisMadridDioceseAlcalá de Henares (since 1991)ClergyBishop(s)Antonio Prieto LucenaCriteriaCultural: (ii), (iv), (vi)Designated1998 (22nd session)Part ofUniversity and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de HenaresReference no.876 TypeNon-movableCriteriaMonumentDesignated22 December 1904Reference no.RI-51-0000085

The Magistral Cathedral of Saint Justus and Saint Pastor (Spanish: Catedral de los Santos Niños Justo y Pastor) is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Together with Saint Peter's of Leuven, they are the only churches worldwide to hold the title of Magistral, as their canons are required to be doctors in Theology.^[3]

The archbishop Carrillo (1446-1482) elevated the church to the rank of collegiate church. The current building was designed during the time of Cardinal Cisneros (1495-1517) he was awarded the title of "Master" and the current building was designed and constructed between 1497 and 1516 in late Gothic style typical of the age.^[4] The tower was built between 1528 and 1582.

It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1904.^[5] During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the church was burned. It lost virtually all its treasures in the fire, saving some bars and some chairs from the old choir. In 1991 the diocese of Alcalá restored and elevated to the status of cathedral-master, the Diocese Complutense recovering that which was from the 5th century until 1099.

Exterior

The exterior of the cathedral is simple and austere. The walls are covered by molding type Segovia. They emphasize the cover of the western facade of Flamboyant Gothic style, in which central medallion depicted on Saint Ildefonso; and the tower, designed by Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón^[6] and Rodrigo Argüello, in herrerian style, with a height of 62.05 meters. Top is a beautiful spire tower slate.

The cathedral has a severe seventeenth century cloister arches between pilasters. Soils appear covered by Renaissance carpets from nearby convents. In one of the walls the grave of Cardinal Cisneros remains.

Interior

The building's interior is divided into three naves covered by cross vaults resting on pillars fasciculados. The overall shape of the building resembles the traditional Latin cross with marked transept. The entire building suffered much in that fire, and countless works of art and objects of great historical, devotional and sentimental value were lost. Today the cathedral houses apart from its religious functions, an interpretive center and the Cathedral Museum.

Gallery

• 
  Main portico.
• 
  Central Nave
• 
  Church tower
• 
  Spiral staircase to access the bell tower
• 
  Silver urn
• 
  Cloister

References