Badajoz Cathedral

Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Catedral metropolitana de San Juan Bautista
Badajoz Cathedral
Basic information
Location	Badajoz, Spain
Geographic coordinates
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Rite	Latin Rite
Province	Mérida Badajoz
Year consecrated	1270
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Metropolitan cathedral
Heritage designation	1931
Leadership	Archbishop Santiago García
Website	www.archimeridabadajoz.org
Architectural description
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Gothic, Baroque
Groundbreaking	1230
Completed	1276
Specifications
Length	70 metres (230 ft)
Width	40 metres (130 ft)
Spanish Property of Cultural Interest
Official name: Iglesia Catedral de San Juan Bautista
Designated	3 June 1931
Reference no.	(R.I.)-51-0000394-00000

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist of Badajoz (Spanish: Catedral metropolitana de San Juan Bautista de Badajoz) is a Roman Catholic cathedral church in Badajoz, Extremadura, western Spain. Since 1994, together with the Co-cathedral of Saint Mary Major of Mérida, it is the seat of the Archdiocese of Mérida-Badajoz.

History

After the reconquest of Badajoz in 1230 by King Alfonso IX of León, the new bishop Padro Pérez initially adapted the former mosque in the Badajoz Alcazaba (citadel) as a cathedral. A new cathedral was not begun until the mid-13th century. The site chosen was that of a pre-existing Visigothic and Mozarabic church in the Campo de San Juan, situated outside the citadel.

File:Coro de la S.I. Catedral Metropolitana de Badajoz.jpg

View of the choir.

In 1270, though the construction was not finished, the new cathedral was consecrated and dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The various works on the building lasted until the 15th century, and were followed by some modifications and renovations in the 16th-17th centuries.

The church was declared a national historical monument in 1931. On July 28, 1994, Pope John Paul II established the Archdiocese of Mérida-Badajoz, making the Church of Saint John the Baptist its metropolitan cathedral.

Description

Due to its position outside the citadel, the church has a fortress-like appearance, with strong walls and bastions, and a sturdy square tower. The tower measures 11 meters on each side and 14 meters in height, and consists in four sections, the top one housing the bells. The original design included two of such towers.

The church itself has a simple rectangular main façade with one marble portal, built in 1619. The portalis flanked by two Ionic columns and is surmounted by a niche with a statue of St. John the Baptist. The portal of St. Blaise, on the southern side, is most likely the oldest one: it is flanked by two pilasters and features a small image of the saint to which it is entitled. All the walls, and the tower as well, feature Gothic merlons. The interior, in the late Gothic style, has a nave and two aisles, side chapels, a high altar (with a highly decorated Baroque retablo) and a choir with Plateresque stalls and a Baroque organ.

The cloister is in Manueline Portuguese style.

References

• .

External links

• Page with history and a video of the construction phases
• Page at Ciudades Catedrals website (Spanish)
• Detailed guide of the Catedral of Badajoz (Spanish)