Issue date: 08 Nov, 2011

CATEDRALES. Catedral de Tarazona

CONSULT RATES

CATEDRALES. Catedral de Tarazona

HISTORY

The Cathedral Nuestra Señora de la Huerta de Tarazona, first called Nuestra Señora de Hidria, features in this souvenir sheet that depicts a side view of the temple with the dome over the transept, whilst the stamp features a panoramic view of the tower.

The building works began in 1162 but it wasn’t consecrated until 1235. During the reign of James I the Conqueror it was expanded and in the XIV century suffered significant damage during the War of the two Pedros. It was then rebuilt and underwent various changes over the centuries merging architectural elements of the Gothic, Renaissance and Moorish periods.

It has three naves with a transept and a semicircular chevet with chapels radiating out of the apse and a quadrangular cloister with a stellar vault of the XVI century. There is a tower with Gothic and Moorish elements built between the XIV and XVI centuries.

In its interior the most interesting element is the Mudejar style dome above the transept decorated around 1546 in the Renaissance style by Alonso González. Also worth mentioning are the central nave and aisles covered with a stellar vault and a pulpit by Peter of Sardinia in 1506 with Renaissance motifs. There is also a late XVIII century organ and an altarpiece devoted to Nuestra Señora de la Huerta by Diego Martínez and Jaime Viñola.

The most interesting elements of the exterior are the bell tower, the Mudejar style dome and the main entrance built in 1577 and renovated in 1788. It is located in the northern nave of the transept, where there is a stonework façade with a large portico with interesting characters representing San Pedro, San Pablo, San Atilano, San Gaudioso, Bishop of Tarazona and Caridad besides caryatids that symbolize the Virtues, all of them works of sculptor Bernal del Fuego.