About the Cathedral of Santa Maria in Tarragona, Spain.
Construction began in the 12th century (around 1171) on the site of a former Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter, later converted into a Visigothic church and then a mosque during Moorish rule. The cathedral was consecrated in 1331, though parts of it remain unfinished, adding to its unique charm.
Architecturally, it blends Romanesque elements—like the rounded arches of its early structure—with Gothic features, such as pointed arches and the magnificent rose window on the main façade. The cloister, completed in the 13th century, is a highlight, with intricately carved capitals depicting biblical scenes, local legends, and even whimsical figures.
The unfinished main façade has three portals, corresponding to the nave and the aisles; the central one is in a Gothic style with similarities to that in the Cathedrals of Amiens and Reims, with ogival arcades, while the other two are in Romanesque style. The main gate is surmounted by a large rose window, similar to that in the Monastery of Sant Cugat or in the Cathedral of Majorca. The twelve spokes represent the twelve tribes of Israel, or the apostles. It has a diameter of 11 meters. The two lateral portal have also smaller rose windows.
The construction of the cloister began perhaps around 1194, although other scholars assign it from 1214 onwards. Located northeast to the cathedral, it has a rectangular plan, measuring 47 by 46 meters. It has a large central courtyard and four galleries divide by pilasters. Some of them include gutters discharging rainwater to the Roman sewer, which was still in use. The vault covering of the galleries follows the model of the monasteries of Poblet and Vallbona de les Monges.
The arcades of the galleries are organized in groups of three smaller circular arches, surmounted by couples of small rose windows and, above them, a large ogival arch. Above the latter is in turn a frieze in Moorish style. The capitals of the columns are sculpted with religious scenes, such as the visit of the angels to Abraham, Cain and Abel an others. At the corner of the northern gallery are scenes from the Genesis and the New Testament, St. Thomas’ incredulity and the legend of St. Nicholas. The wall of the eastern gallery includes an Arab inscription from the year 960, belonging to the former mosque.
The cloister is accessed through a Romanesque gate from the 13th century. It has a tympanum with the Majesty of God and the Tetramorph. The columns supporting the archivolts have capitals with vegetable elements and scenes of the visit of the three Mary to Christ’s sepulchre. The column of the mullion is also decorated with a reptile and with scenes of the life of Jesus.
The Capitular Hall, dating to the mid-12th century, could be accessed from the cloister or the church. In 1330 it was converted into the Chapel of Corpus Christi It has a square plan and is covered by barrel vault. The entrance has a central door sided by windows. The keystone of the apse (added in the 14th-century) shows a Christ in Majesty, while in the arch are symbols of the Tetramorph. The apse has also a sculpture group of the Annunciation and the decorated tombstone of Alemanda de Rocabertí (died 1373).
There are many Chapels within the Cathedral. with artworks in each one that would be worthy of a visit all on their own..
Inside the cathedral’s garden is the chapel of Santa Tecla l’Antiga (“St. Tecla the Ancient”), built in the 13th century in a transitional Romanesque-Gothic style. It houses the tomb of Bernat de Olivella (1287), by the master Bartolomeu of Girona.
The Gothic bell tower ( 230 feet high) is located over the southern smaller apse, and was commissioned by bishop Roderic Tello (1289–1308). It has a prism plan enclosed in an octagonal one. The upper part (14th century) is composed of two floors, the first featuring pinnacles and windows. Over the latter is a small temple, realised in 1511, housing the bells.
The Diocesan Museum is housed here in the Cathedral, with displays of religious art, tapestries, and artifacts.
Traveling to the Cathedral of Santa Maria in Tarragona, Spain:
The Cathedral sits atop the highest point of the city, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Address: Pla de la Seu, 1 Tarragona
Phone: +34 977 22 69 35
email: info@catedraldetarragona.com
Click here for the official website of the Cathedral of Santa Maria in Tarragona, Spain.