Ávila - Catedral de Cristo Salvador

Under the Visigoths, Ávila was one of the most important cities in the kingdom due to its proximity to the capital Toledo. From the 8th to the 11th centuries, Ávila was Moorish. The situation in the contested borderland between the Muslim and Christian worlds prevented prosperity, which only began in the 15th century when the fighting moved further south. The city experienced its heyday in the 16th century. The plague, the expulsion of the Moriscos (baptized Moors), and the emigration of many people to America caused Ávila's gradual decline, from which the city has only slowly recovered since the 19th century. Today the population is around 60,000.

The “Catedral de Ávila” was planned as a cathedral fortress. The choir is fully integrated into the aalls and its apse was one of the towers of the city wall.

The building, a mix of Gothic and Romanesque styles, dates back to the 12th century and is considered one of the first Gothic cathedrals in Spain. The client was probably Alfonso VIII. The first draft comes from Master Girald Fruchel (+ 1192). The cathedral shows French influences and great resemblances to the Abbey Church of St Denis,

Initially created in the choir with a double ambulatory. The nave was only completed in the 14th century. Over time it became clear that the proportions of the central nave and the low side aisles caused structural problems. In the 18th century, support arches were added and the crossing pillars were strengthened.

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