Cathedral Basilica Santa Maria la Real
Cathedral Basilica Santa Maria la Real
Cathedral Basilica Santa Maria la Real (Calle Curia, Pamplona) — built in the 13th century upon the remains of an ancient Roman cathedral, it was finished in 1525. It consists of several different styles inside: It has a Gothic vestibule and the main altar where the kings of Navarra were crowned has a statue of the Virgen del Sagrario. It has a European Gothic cloister dating back to 1277 and 1472; the altarpiece in the 16th century Santa Cristina chapel; the choir stalls were carved by por Esteban de Obray; the facade is Neoclassic dating back to 1800; one of its bells “La María” from 1584 weighs 12,000 Kg and is the second biggest in the whole of Spain.
Within this landmark is the Cathedral Museum. Not only do visitors have access to the more common sections of any cathedral such as church, cloister and sacristy, but also to the cillería, refectory, chapter house, kitchen and bedrooms. While the spaces that can be seen today in the museum were built in different periods of time, the majority of them were erected during the 14th and 15th centuries in the same place where originally a Roman temple and the Roman city of Pompaelo were located. The building’s neoclassical western façade was completed more recently in the 18th century. It is contrasted by the interior which was built in gothic style.
In front of the cathedral’s presbytery, stands the mausoleum of King Charles III and his wife. King Charles III is very important in Pamplona’s history because he was responsible for the city’s unification in 1423. Underneath the mausoleum, there is a crypt with the remains of all the kings of the Kingdom of Navarre since 1134. Unfortunately, this crypt is not open to the public.
Admission (Museum): €5 (adult), €2 (pilgrim), €2.50 (children). Hours (Museum): 10:30 am – 6:00 pm (Monday-Saturday)(closed on Sundays). Hours (cathedral): 9:00 am – 10:10 am & 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm (Monday-Saturday), 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (Sundays and holidays).