Catedral de Mondoñedo

The Cathedral of Mondoñedo is a basilica cathedral of the Assumption and one of the main heritage monuments of Mondoñedo, in the province of Lugo, Galicia. It is located in the Plaza da Catedral, in the historic center of the town, with coordinates 43º 25' 41.0" N - 7º 21' 46.1" W. Its construction began in 1219 and was consecrated in 1242 by Bishop Martin, so it belongs to the 13th century. The building presents a clear mixture of architectural styles: it preserves the primitive Romanesque façade, incorporates Gothic elements in the transept and the sacristy, and adds Baroque and later reforms in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Among its most outstanding heritage elements are the rectangular floor plan with three naves, the transept, the rectangular ambulatory, the cloister and the façade with two Baroque towers. Inside, the main rococo altarpiece, the mural paintings, the choir, the organs and the cathedral and diocesan museum stand out. It was declared a National Monument in 1902 and is part of the World Heritage linked to the Northern Way of St. James. Its singular profile, of low height and balanced proportions, has earned it the popular nickname of "Kneeling Cathedral".