Alcalá de Henares Cathedral Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Alcalá de Henares Cathedral
Magistral Cathedral of Saint Justus and Saint Pastor
Catedral Magistral de los Santos Niños Justo y Pastor
West façade in 2023.
40°28′50″N 3°22′09″W / 40.480525°N 3.369258°W / 40.480525; -3.369258
Location	Alcalá de Henares
Country	Spain
Denomination	Catholic
History
Status	Cathedral
Dedication	Justus and Pastor
Dedicated	23 July 1991
Architecture
Architect(s)	Antón Egas, Enrique Egas
Style	Late Gothic, Mudéjar
Years built	1497—1516
Specifications
Tower height	62 m (203 ft 5 in)
Administration
Metropolis	Madrid
Diocese	Alcalá de Henares (since 1991)

The Magistral Cathedral of Saint Justus and Saint Pastor is a very special Roman Catholic church located in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. It is one of only two churches in the world that holds the title of "Magistral." This means that its priests, called canons, must have special university degrees in Theology, which is the study of religious faith.

History of the Cathedral
- Building the Cathedral
- Challenges and Restoration
What the Cathedral Looks Like
- The West Facade and Tower
- The Cloister
Inside the Cathedral
Gallery
See also

History of the Cathedral

This important church has a long history. In the past, an archbishop named Carrillo, who was in charge from 1446 to 1482, made the church a "collegiate church." This meant it had a group of priests (canons) who lived and worked together.

Building the Cathedral

The main building you see today was designed and built between 1497 and 1516. This happened during the time of Cardinal Cisneros, who was a very important leader from 1495 to 1517. The church was built in a style called Late Gothic, which was popular at that time. The tall tower was added later, between 1528 and 1582.

Challenges and Restoration

In 1904, the cathedral was recognized as a Bien de Interés Cultural, which means it's a protected cultural site in Spain. Sadly, during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the church was badly damaged by fire. It lost almost all of its valuable art and historical items. Only a few metal bars and some old choir chairs survived the fire.

However, the cathedral was restored and given a new important role in 1991. It became a cathedral again for the Diocese of Alcalá de Henares. This brought back a tradition that had existed from the 5th century until 1099.

What the Cathedral Looks Like

The outside of the cathedral is quite simple and strong. Its walls are covered with a special type of molding.

The West Facade and Tower

The most striking part of the outside is the main entrance on the western side. It's built in a fancy Gothic style called Flamboyant Gothic. In the middle of this entrance, there's a carving of Saint Ildefonso. The tower is also very impressive, standing about 62 meters (203 feet) tall. It was designed by famous architects Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón and Rodrigo Argüello. At the very top, there's a beautiful spire made of slate.

The Cloister

The cathedral also has a quiet courtyard called a cloister, built in the 17th century. It has arches supported by pillars. The floors inside the cloister are covered with old Renaissance carpets that came from nearby convents. You can also find the tomb of Cardinal Cisneros on one of the cloister walls.

Inside the Cathedral

The inside of the building has three long sections, called naves. The ceilings are covered with beautiful cross vaults, which are arched structures that meet in the middle. These vaults rest on strong pillars. The overall shape of the building looks like a traditional Latin cross when viewed from above.

As mentioned, the inside of the cathedral suffered a lot during the fire. Many artworks and historical objects were lost. Today, besides being a place of worship, the cathedral also has a special center where visitors can learn about its history. There is also a Cathedral Museum.