Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption

The current construction, begun in the 12th century, is a temple with a Latin cross floor plan, it includes various architectural styles (Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque) and has an interior cloister that gives access to the Episcopal Palace. A building with an amalgam of styles and forms shaped by the passing of the centuries. The cathedral of Mondoñedo is built on an old church and monastery of Santa Maria pre-existing in the place that today occupies this building. Its construction dates from the 13th century, although the Episcopal See was established in Mondoñedo in 1112, but for various reasons, and for the brief transfer of the same to Ribadeo between 1185 and 1219, the works were not carried out until later. It was Bishop Don Martín who brought the work to a successful conclusion, as it is said that he was the one who built it, finishing and consecrating it. The consecration probably took place on October 19 or 20, 1242, since the following year this bishop asked Rome for his retirement, presumably after finishing his work in the construction of the temple. However, Rome did not grant his retirement until years later. This initial construction is made thanks to the episcopal, popular and royal contributions in the figures of the monarchs of León Alfonso IX and Fernando III. It will be a low building, with a central nave higher than the sides and two round towers, one on each side of the main facade. This is the original physiognomy but it will change little by little over the centuries until it becomes what it is today. The great exterior emblem of this temple is its large circular rose window, a work dating from the thirteenth century that allows light to enter the temple, illuminating, today, its large interior stained glass window presided over by a central Pantocrator. The difference in heights between the central nave and the lateral ones is solved in the 14th century with the elevation of the walls to make them equal and thus give it a more uniform exterior appearance. It was not until the 16th century that new work was done on the exterior of the temple and it was the initiative of Bishop Diego de Soto. They will consist of a recess in front of the main facade of the temple that will be closed, giving place to a small square that will separate the entrance of the cathedral with the rest of the square and that will be maintained until well into the twentieth century. The front closing of this one, will be of stonework and the lateral ones of iron. It will have access doors in the lateral closings. In 1503 there is already a clock in the cathedral mindoniense that will be changed in 1585. In the 18th century the greatest change in the cathedral façade will take place, as two new towers will be built to replace the previous round and low towers. These new towers will be square and with a height of 35 meters. In 1718 the first one (on the left) was inaugurated and in 1720 the second one (on the right). The last exterior renovation took place in the 20th century (1968) and affected the entrance to the cathedral and the square that opens in front of its façade. In these works the closing that had been in front of the façade since the 16th century will be eliminated, the square will be lowered to equalize the height with it and the cantons that were in front will be moved back, leaving only the arcades under the houses that close the square. Inside, today, there is a large central nave open from the entrance to the main altar and two smaller aisles that allow a tour of the entire temple and that are joined behind the main altar in a ambulatory. The arms of the transept, smaller than the main nave, are intended to house part of the wooden choir and the current organ (left arm) and as a place for the faithful and access to the cloister (right arm). This is the aspect that we find when we enter the Mindonian cathedral, but it is a view that was built slowly since the thirteenth century. The temple was already growing since the beginning of the current construction of the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament.