Cathedral of the Holy Cross

Few cathedrals look out over the sea quite like the one in Cádiz. Built almost at the water's edge in the heart of the old town, its silhouette can be seen from practically every corner of the city, and it is no coincidence that it is known as the 'Holy Cross over the Sea' or the 'Holy Cross over the Waters'. The people of Cádiz, being more practical, simply call it the New Cathedral.

That nickname is there for a reason. Just a few steps away stands the Old Cathedral, built in the 16th century on the site of the original Gothic church commissioned by Alfonso X the Wise, and which now serves as a parish church. Walking from one to the other lets you cover several centuries of the city's religious history in a very short stroll.

The new cathedral took a long time to complete. Work began in 1722 and was not declared finished until 28 November 1838, and even then the choir, the presbytery and the towers were still outstanding. Along the way, the French invasions and the loss of Spain's American territories brought economic crises that gradually left their mark on the building. The result is a church of mixed styles, where the early Baroque sits alongside the Neoclassical of the final phase, and in which the changing fortunes of Cádiz can be read almost like a book. Today it is the seat of the Diocese of Cádiz and Ceuta and is listed as a Site of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural).

The visit includes both the interior of the cathedral and the climb up the Clock Tower, from where you can really appreciate the close relationship between the cathedral, the city and the sea. The same ticket also gives access to the Cathedral Museum, located in Plaza Fray Félix next to the Old Cathedral, which displays a collection of pieces and also holds a store of other works of interest. It is worth setting aside enough time to see everything at a leisurely pace.