Almudena Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Mary the Royal of La Almudena is the cathedral of Madrid, standing directly opposite the Royal Palace in the historic core of the Spanish capital. Although Madrid became the seat of the court in the sixteenth century, it long lacked a cathedral, and work on the present building did not begin until 1883. Construction stretched across more than a century, interrupted by the Spanish Civil War, and the cathedral was finally completed and consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1993, the first cathedral ever consecrated by a pope.
The long building campaign left the church an unusual stylistic blend: a Neoclassical exterior designed to harmonise with the adjacent palace, a Neo-Gothic interior, and a Neo-Romanesque crypt that holds the venerated image of the Virgin of La Almudena, patroness of the city. The ceilings and chapels are decorated in vividly modern designs that surprise visitors expecting medieval gloom.
As the active cathedral of the Archdiocese of Madrid, it hosts major civic and royal ceremonies, including the 2004 wedding of the future King Felipe VI. Its location beside the palace and the gardens makes it a focal point of any visit to old Madrid.
- Annual visitors
- ≈ 1,000,000
- Location
- 40.4156, -3.7146
- Local time
- 00:34 (Europe/Madrid)
🕘 Visiting hours
| Mon–Sun | 10:00–21:00 |
Open daily; widest window (10:00-21:00 Jul-Aug, 10:00-20:30 rest of year). Not visitable during services; free entry with suggested donation.
✨ Saints & blessed venerated here
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Our Lady of the Almudena (Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena) Saint
Marian patroness and namesake; Gothic carving on the high altar and a 16th-century image venerated in the crypt.
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Saint Isidore the Laborer (San Isidro Labrador) Saint
Co-patron of Madrid; his 13th-century funerary ark is displayed in the central ambulatory chapel.
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Saint Maria de la Cabeza Saint
Wife of St Isidore; her Baroque statue shares the central ambulatory chapel dedicated to the couple.
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Saint Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer Saint
Honored with a dedicated chapel in the lateral naves.
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Saint Maravillas of Jesus Saint
Spanish Carmelite saint honored with a chapel in the lateral naves.
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Saint Angela of the Cross Saint
Spanish foundress with a dedicated chapel among the lateral-nave chapels.
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Saint Pedro Poveda Saint
Martyr and founder honored with a chapel in the lateral naves.
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Blessed Mariana de Jesus Blessed
Beatified Madrid Mercedarian honored with a dedicated chapel.
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Saint John the Baptist Saint
Depicted in an 18th-century sculpture by Robert Michel in the baptismal chapel.
Care & donations
Archdiocese of Madrid
Donations accepted; museum and dome fees apply
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