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 special Catholic cathedral in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. It's one of only two churches in the world with the title "Magistral." This means that its canons (a type of priest) must have a special university degree in Theology.

This church was first made into a collegiate church (a church with a college of canons) by Archbishop Carrillo between 1446 and 1482. The building you see today was designed and built from 1497 to 1516. This happened during the time of Cardinal Cisneros, who was a very important leader. The building was made in a style called Late Gothic. The tall tower was added later, between 1528 and 1582.

In 1904, the cathedral was named a Bien de Interés Cultural, which means it's a protected historical building in Spain. Sadly, during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the church was badly damaged by fire. Most of its valuable treasures were lost, except for a few metal bars and some old choir chairs. In 1991, the church was restored and became a cathedral again. It got back its old status from the 5th century.

Exploring the Cathedral's Outside
- The Tall Tower
- The Quiet Cloister
Inside the Cathedral
- What Was Lost and What Remains
Gallery
See also

Exploring the Cathedral's Outside

The outside of the cathedral looks simple and strong. Its walls are covered with a special type of molding. The most interesting part is the front entrance on the western side. It has a fancy Flamboyant Gothic style. In the middle of this entrance, there's a round carving showing Saint Ildefonso.

The Tall Tower

The cathedral's tower is very impressive. It was designed by Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón and Rodrigo Argüello. The tower is about 62 meters (203 feet) tall. At the very top, there's a beautiful spire made of dark slate.

The Quiet Cloister

The cathedral also has a quiet cloister from the 1600s. A cloister is a covered walkway, usually around a courtyard. The floor of this cloister is covered with old carpets from nearby convents. You can also find the tomb of Cardinal Cisneros here.

Inside the Cathedral

The inside of the building has three main sections called naves. The ceilings are covered with special cross-shaped vaults. These vaults rest on strong pillars. The overall shape of the building looks like a traditional cross.

What Was Lost and What Remains

As mentioned, the inside of the cathedral suffered a lot from the fire during the Spanish Civil War. Many beautiful artworks and historical items were destroyed. Today, the cathedral is still used for religious services. It also has a special center where you can learn about its history. There is also a museum inside the cathedral.