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Cathedral of Santa Maria d'Urgell

discover romanesque cathedral consecrated holy mary town seu urgell
 visit inside cathedral seu urgell main nave
The interior of the cathedral of La Seu d'Urgell. Photographer: Gennadii Saus i Segura
In the historical center of the town of La Seu d'Urgell stand the cathedral of Santa Maria, the only Romanesque cathedral conserved until today in Catalonia. Built in the 12th century, the temple is a peculiar building in the Catalan Romanesque, thanks to its large dimensions, the fortified aspect and the Lombard elements present in the exterior ornamentation.

The cathedral has a basilical plan with three naves separated by great pillars, a great transept, a dome over the crossing and a header with five apses, of which only the central one is projected to the exterior. The central nave, the highest, is covered with barrel vault and the lateral naves are covered with groin vault. The basilica of Saint Mary is the main element of the episcopal complex of Urgell, which also includes the Episcopal Palace, the Diocesan Museum and the church of Sant Miquel, also called church of Sant Pere.

Highlights

✔ The main facade, with a sumptuous decoration, is composed of three sections corresponding to the three naves of the temple and two massive unfinished lateral towers. On the facade stand a small squared bell tower, two-story with twin windows.
✔ The semicircular central apse, in which stands out the outer gallery of circulation formed by 15 semicircular arches supported on columns. Reminds the churches of northern Italy.
✔ The majestic cloister attached to the southern wall of the church, slightly trapezoidal in shape. The cloister conserves three Romanesque galleries with semicircular arches, with sculpted capitals. The fourth gallery is from the 17th century.
✔ The doorways. The cathedral has five doors, three on the main facade and one each on the north and south facades. The central portal of the main facade and the side doors have an elaborate decoration.
✔ The Holy Virgin of Urgell, the town's patron saint, also known as Our Lady of Andorra, a Romanesque carving of polychrome wood from the 13th century located inside an absidiol at the high altar.
✔ The Diocesan Museum, which offers a magnificent collection of objects of liturgical and religious art including various objects that were part of the Treasure of the Cathedral.

Contact
Plaça del Deganat, s/n
La Seu d'Urgell (Lleida) 25700
www.museudiocesaurgell.org (cat)
Tel.: +34 973 353 242
info@turismeseu.com
Opening hours
Summer season (June - September)
Monday to Saturday: 10am – 1.30pm and 4pm – 7pm
Public holidays: 10am – 2pm
Rest of the year
Monday to Saturday: 10am – 1.30pm and 4pm – 6pm
Public holidays: 10am – 1pm
Closed: non-holiday Sundays, January 1 and 6, April 2 (afternoon), April 5, August 30, August 31 (afternoon), December 25 and 26.
Prices
General admission: 4 €
Reduced admission: 3 €
Super-reduced admission: 2 €
Free admission: children under 12, guides and teachers accompanying a group, members of the Association of Museologists of Catalonia, members of ICOM.
Accommodation in La Seu d'Urgell