Murcia - A walk through the imposing cathedral and its bell tower

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Baroque cover of the cathedral of Murcia

My first "contact" with the Murcia city It was quite a distance. I explain.

I was on the road to visit Cartagena and we passed through the ring road of Murcia, a city that caught my attention an imposing tower that turned out to be that of the cathedral.

Now when planning our recent trip to Murcia, a city that was the first time we visited, we were already aware that the city's most prominent monument was precisely its cathedral.

Renaissance tower of the cathedral of Murcia

Effectively, Cathedral and the square where it is located, in the Cardinal Belluga's square, is one of the emblematic places of historic center of Murcia and a must-see on your getaway to this Levantine city, during which you will see corners of great artistic wealth

The history of the cathedral of MurciIt dates back to 1394 when it began to be built on the remains of the Mosque from the city.

The main work ended in 1462, but actually in the Murcia Cathedral various additives have been built until the end of the 18th century, which has marked one of its main characteristics, a great mix of architectural styles.

The aforementioned tower is one of the elements that will attract the most attention from the Murcia Cathedral.

Murcia Cathedral

What to see in Murcia cathedral

In the beginning I will tell you that it is a bell tower separated from the main building, in the style, for example, of the bells of the cathedrals of the cities of the Italian Tuscany.

Is a renaissance style tower realized in diverse phases, whose first body began to be constructed at the beginning of the 16th century precisely by Florentine artists.

The second body was raised by artists from Cantabria maintaining the Florentine style, and the third and final body of the bell tower of the cathedral of Murcia It was already completed during the 18th century.

In the end it has a total height of 95 meters, including the weather vane, so that it is the second tallest tower in Spain after that of the Giralda of Seville.

Door of the Apostles in the Cathedral of Murcia

Baroque cover

But although at a distance the most distinctive element of the Murcian cathedral is said tower, or at least that is what I once perceived, already when you get to the aforementioned Cardinal Belluga's square you find yourself before your icon image, the imafronte baroque style.

It is an imposing front built in three clearly defined bodies and whose doors give access to the respective ships, although the main one, the Gate of Forgiveness, it only opens on the occasion of festivities or special ceremonies.

If you enter the cathedral through the north facade, where the bell tower rises, you will do it through the Gate of the Chains, Plateresque style, while on the south facade you have the Gate of the Apostles, Plateresque Gothic style.

Chapel of the Vélez in the Cathedral of Murcia

Chapel of the Vélez

Now it is inside theMurcia Cathedral Where you find your greatest artistic wealth.

Specifically, it's about the call Chapel of the Vélez, from the time of Catholic kings, an imposing and beautiful corner of flamboyant Gothic style culminated with a starry vault influenced by the Alhambra of Granada.

In this chapel there are also influences of the Gothic Manueline style as a result of the participation in its construction of Portuguese artisans.

Of the exceptional dimensions of this chapel, whose plan stands out from that of the cathedral, you will have clear reference when you see its exterior, where you must look at the curious large stone chain that surrounds it to symbolize its belonging to the cathedral.

Chapel of Junterones in the Murcia Cathedral

Junterones Chapel

Another prominent corner of the interior of the cathedral of Murcia is the Junterones Chapel, a good example of Renaissance architecture in Spain.

The Main Chapel, where you can see a neo-gothic altarpiece, is considered as Royal chapel because on one of its sides is the Sepulcher of King Alfonso X.

Specifically, in the sepulcher his heart and entrails are preserved, because the king established it to affirm his love and fidelity to the city of Murcia.

Sepulcher of Alfonso X in the Murcia Cathedral

To highlight the rowing which closes in front of the Main Chapel, which is the original fifteenth century made in Gothic style.

Opposite the aforementioned Main Chapel is the Cathedral Choir, also closed with a similar reería, with a plateresque style stalls and whose most prominent element is its imposing organ.

Installed in the 19th century by order of the Queen isabel II, the actual Murcia Cathedral organ It was brought from a convent of San Martín de Valdeiglesias, and has 400 tubes and four keyboards.

In sum, the Murcia Cathedral It is a great monument that will surely surprise you with the structure of the building built in Gothic style, the bell tower in Renaissance style, an imposing cover in Baroque style, and inside, a mixture of different styles.

Main Chapel of the Murcia Cathedral

Schedules Catedral Murcia

The visiting hours of the Murcia Cathedral they are, most of the year, from Tuesday to Saturday, from 7 am to 1 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm, and Monday, Sundays and holidays, from 7 am to 1 pm and from 6.30 pm to 8 pm.

In the summer months of July and August, the schedule is from Monday to Sunday, from 7 to 13 hours and from 18.30 to 20 hours.

The admission is free except for visit the Murcia Cathedral Museum, which occupies the sacristy and part of the ancient cloister of the fourteenth century.

Choir and organ of the cathedral of Murcia

The price of the visit on your own is 3 euros and the one-hour guided tour, 5 euros, which also includes the option of climb the cathedral tower.

In summer you can also sign up for night guided tours of the Murcia Cathedral.

Here you have all the information about the visit of the museum and the option to climb the tower of the Murcia Cathedral.

For a next visit we still have to climb the tower of the cathedral and thus see the panoramic views of the city of Murcia.

Photos Murcia Cathedral

Here you have more Photos of the Murcia Cathedral.



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