Cathedral of Toledo
Façade.
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo,
also called Primate Cathedral of Toledo, is
a church in Spain. The seat of the Arch-
diocese of Toledo, it is one of the three 13th
century High Gothic cathedrals in Spain and
is considered to be the pinnacle[1] of the
Gothic style in Spain. It was begun in 1226
during the reign of Ferdinand III and the last
Gothic contributions were made in the 15th
century when, in 1493, the vaults of the cent-
ral nave were finished, during the times of
the Catholic Monarchs. It was modeled after
Bourges Cathedral, although its five naves
plan is the consequence of the constructors’
intention to cover all of the sacred space of
the former city mosque with the cathedral,
and of the former sahn with the cloister. It
also combines some characteristics of the
Mudéjar style, mainly in the cloister, and
with the presence of multifoiled arches in the
triforium. The spectacular incorporation of
light and the structural achievements of the
ambulatory vaults are some of its more
remarkable aspects. It is built with white
stone from Olihuelas, close to Toledo. The
cathedral is one of Toledo’s major touristic
points of interest and can be visited for a fee
(as of Dec. 2008, 7 EUR). The fee is waived
for Spaniards on Sunday possibly contraven-
ing European anti-discrimination laws.
It is popularly known as Dives Toletana (in
the sense of the rich Toledan).[2]
History
Origins
For years, the unwritten popular tradition
has come down telling that there was in the
same place as the current cathedral at first a
temple from the era of the first Archbishop
Eugene (Saint Eugene of Toledo). This
temple was consecrated for a second time in
the year 587, after having undergone some
alterations, as testified by the inscription ap-
pearing in the 16th century that is preserved
in the cloister and states:
In the name of the Lord the Church
of Saint Mary was consecrated as
Catholic, the first day of the ides of
April, in the joyful first year of the
reign of our most glorious king
Flavius