Segovia Cathedral

Segovia Cathedral, on the Plaza Mayor at the top of the old town, is known as the Lady of the Cathedrals, a nickname that refers to its tall, elegant proportions and delicate stonework. It is one of the last great Gothic cathedrals built in Spain. The earlier cathedral stood beside the Alcázar and was badly damaged during the Comuneros revolt of 1520 and 1521, after which the chapter decided to build a new one in the centre of the city. Construction began in 1525 under the architect Juan Gil de Hontañón, and his son Rodrigo continued the work, which was largely finished by the late sixteenth century.

By that time, the Renaissance had already taken hold in much of Europe, yet the builders held to the Gothic style, and the result has a late flourish. The exterior has a forest of pinnacles, buttresses and spires, and a tall tower rises above the plaza. The honey-coloured stone glows in the evening light. Inside, the plan is wide and bright, with a long nave, soaring ribbed vaults and tall windows that fill the space with light. The scale is more graceful than overwhelming, which gives it a surprisingly calm atmosphere.

Side chapels hold altarpieces, sculpture and paintings from several centuries, and the choir and organ add to the interior. The cloister, which belongs to the earlier cathedral, was taken down stone by stone and rebuilt beside the new building, so it brings a fragment of the older church into the new one. A museum in the chapter rooms holds liturgical objects, vestments, paintings and sculpture. A highlight is the sculpture of the Pietà, which shows the mother of Jesus mourning her son.

A guided visit to the tower is available with timed slots, and it gives a wide view over the rooftops of Segovia, the surrounding plateau and the Sierra de Guadarrama. The visit includes climbing a narrow stair and sometimes the bell chamber. It is best to book ahead in busy months and check for closures during services.

The cathedral sits only a few minutes from the Segovia Aqueduct and the Alcázar of Segovia along the old town's main street, so it fits easily into a day on foot. The Jewish Quarter and the Casa de los Picos are close, and the Plaza Mayor has cafes where you can see the façade. It suits history and architecture lovers, and those who enjoy a calm interior.