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Almudena Cathedral

On your visit to Madrid you can visit La Almudena, a young cathedral consecrated by a Pope and right in the centre of the city!

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Plan your visit

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Ticket prices

Free of charge, suggested donation €1.

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Free entrance

Free admission is available, especially for the main body of the church.

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Opening hours

FROM SEPTEMBER TO JUNE from Monday to Sunday from 10 to 20 h. DURING JULY AND AUGUST from Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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Audio guide

Available for the museum and the crypt.

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Cloakroom

This church does not have a cloakroom service.

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Accessibility

Access from Bailé Street is via a wide ramp without handrails. Lifts are available for visits to the Cathedral Museum. The rooms are open-plan and have an accessible route. There is no adapted toilet cubicle.

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Address

Calle de Bailén, 10, Madrid, España

For more information, visit the official site
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What to see in the Almudena Cathedral?

When you visit, look for the following:

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  1. Niche of the Virgin of the Almudena.

  2. Façade with Four Spanish Saints: Saint Isidro Labrador, Saint María de la Cabeza, Saint Teresa of Jesus and Saint Ferdinand.

  3. Bronze doors at the entrance of Bailén.

  4. Relic of the Virgin of the Almudena.

  5. Our Lady of the Fleur de Lis.

  6. Mysteric Crown, murals by Kiko Argüello.

  7. Stained glass windows of sacred cubism.

  8. Mural of the Virgen del Pilar, in the crypt.

  9. Chapel of Saint John Paul II.

  10. Tapestries of the life of Alexander the Great in the Cathedral Museum.

Photo gallery

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Why should it be part of your tour?

It can't always be said that the church you visit is younger than most of its visitors. The Catedral Santa María la Real de la Almudena is the seat of the archbishopric of Madrid and is a must-see for those who want to explore the history and culture of the city, right opposite the Royal Palace.

Why is it so new? Well, construction began in the 19th century, but its completion was delayed for over a century due to various reasons, including the Spanish Civil War. The cathedral was consecrated by Pope John Paul II only in 1993, making it one of the most recent cathedrals in the world (and one of the few to be consecrated by a Supreme Pontiff outside of Italy!)

The cathedral's architecture is a unique blend of styles, ranging from neo-Gothic to neo-Classical and neo-Romanesque. The main façade is an impressive work of art, with a statue of the Virgin of Almudena at the entrance welcoming visitors and "matching" the Royal Palace in front of it. The cathedral also has a large Byzantine-style dome rising above the main nave, making it one of the tallest cathedrals in Europe.

Inside, the cathedral is equally impressive. Highlights include the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, which has a five-metre-high Carrara marble cross and a silver altar. You will also find an impressive collection of religious art and several altarpieces as well as a side chapel dedicated to John Paul II and the relic of the Virgin of the Almudena, which dates back to the 13th century.

You can also visit the Cathedral Museum, which houses an impressive collection of religious and cultural art, or the Cathedral Crypt, with its pantheon and more than 400 columns that support the temple. You can also climb up to the dome, leaving from the south side and walking a few metres along the Calle Mayor.

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