Palma Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palma CathedralCatedral de Santa María de Palma de Mallorca |
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"La Seu" Cathedral of Palma
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Location | |
| Location | Palma, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1229 |
| Completed | 1601 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | North-West |
| Length | 121m |
| Width | 40m |
The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, often called La Seu, is a huge and beautiful Roman Catholic church. It is located in Palma, on the island of Mallorca, Spain. This famous building is a great example of Gothic style. It is known for its tall ceilings and amazing stained-glass windows.
A Grand Building with History
This amazing cathedral was built a long time ago. Its construction started in 1229. It was built by the Crown of Aragón on the spot where a mosque once stood. That mosque was from the Moorish era. The cathedral is very big. It is 121 metres (397 feet) long and 40 metres (131 feet) wide. The main part, called the nave, is 44 metres (144 feet) tall. To give you an idea, that's taller than many other famous Gothic cathedrals. For example, the central nave of Notre Dame de Paris is 33 metres tall.
Building a Masterpiece
The design of Palma Cathedral is in the Catalan Gothic style. It also has some ideas from Northern European churches. King James I of Aragon started building it in 1229. But it took a very long time to finish. The cathedral was finally completed in 1601. It stands in the old part of Palma city. It is on top of what used to be a Roman city's fortress. You can find it between the Royal Palace of La Almudaina and the bishop's palace. From the cathedral, you can also see the Parc de la Mar and the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
Antoni Gaudí's Touch
Many years later, in 1901, a famous architect named Antoni Gaudí was asked to help with the cathedral. This was about 50 years after a big restoration project had begun. Gaudí had some interesting ideas for the cathedral. For example, he suggested moving the choir seats closer to the altar. He also designed a large, beautiful canopy over the altar.
However, Gaudí stopped working on the project in 1914. This happened after he had an argument with the builder. The changes he planned were mostly about how the cathedral looked, not its main structure. The project was soon stopped after he left.
See also
- Catholic Church in Spain
- List of highest church naves
