Lugo Cathedral Explained

Saint Mary's Cathedral
Map Type:Spain
Location:Lugo, Galicia, Spain
Geo:43.0092°N -7.5583°W
Religious Affiliation:Roman Catholic Church
Architecture:yes
Architect:Raimundo
Architecture Type:Church
Architecture Style:Romanesque (Gothic, Baroque, Neoclassical)
Groundbreaking:1129
Completed:1273
Specifications:yes
Spire Quantity:2
Designation1:WHS
Designation1 Date:1993
Designation1 Type:Cultural
Designation1 Criteria:ii, iv, vi
Designation1 Number:669bis-007
Designation1 Free1name:Region
Designation1 Free1value:Europe and North America
Designation2:Spain
Designation2 Offname:Catedral de Santa María
Designation2 Type:Real property
Designation2 Criteria:Monument
Designation2 Date:3 June 1931
Designation2 Number:RI-51-0000708

Saint Mary's Cathedral (Galician: Catedral de Santa María), better known as Lugo Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church and basilica in Lugo, Galicia, north-western Spain. The cathedral was erected in the early 12th century in a Romanesque style, with Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical elements.

History

A church existed in the site from 755. In 1129 Bishop Peter III commissioned a new edifice in the latest architectural style from Raimundo, a local architect and builder. This Romanesque structure was completed in 1273.

Later renovations and restorations added elements in other styles, such as the Renaissance retablo at the high altar. It was destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and fragments of it are housed in the church.

The cathedral received from the Pope the privilege to permanently expose the Holy Sacrament.

Structure

The cathedral has a Latin Cross structure, with a length of 85 m. It has a nave, covered by a barrel vault, and two aisles, with an ambulatory and five apse chapels. The triforium features triple ogival mullioned windows. The apse houses a calvary sculpture from an unknown date.

The façade is a Renaissance design by inspired by a plan proposed by Ventura Rodríguez for the Cathedral of Pamplona. Its construction was finished in the late 19th century, with the completion of the two side towers.

The northern entrance's narthex is in Gothic style, dating to 1510-1530. Internally showing a starred vault, it is formed by three archivolts with a lintel showing Christ Pantocrator and with a pinjante (glove-shaped decorative pendant) that features a depiction of the Last Supper.

To the right of the entrance is the Gothic Torre Vella (bell tower), surmounted by a Renaissance top floor finished by Gaspar de Arce in 1580. The sacristy (1678) and the cloister (1714) are in the Baroque style, as is the central chapel of the triforium (1726). The chapel of St. Froilán is in Renaissance style, dating to the 17th century. Notable is the choir, built by Francisco de Moure (early 17th century).

References