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Cathedral of Santa María

The cathedral stands at the highest point of Girona and combines a 12th-century Romanesque cloister with an enormous Gothic nave almost 23 metres wide and 34 high, the result of a construction debate that lasted decades. Inside you pass side chapels, a triforium with stained glass and a presbytery presided over by a 14th-century altarpiece of gilded silver and enamels. The treasury, housed in the chapter house and the sacristy, preserves the Tapestry of Creation, the Girona Beatus and the Casket of Hisham II, among other pieces. Outside, a flight of steps from 1607 leads to the Baroque façade, and in the cloister the capitals carved with fantastic figures and plant motifs accompany the tombs of bishops and nobles.

Things to do at Cathedral of Santa María: 24 missions

• Admire the Renaissance altarpiece of Saint Mary MagdaleneAdmire the Renaissance altarpiece of Saint Mary Magdalene, a 16th-century work by Pere Mates.
• Look at the wooden Virgin MaryLook at the wooden Virgin Mary, dated to the 12th century and covered with silver plates.
• Take in the Casket of Hisham IIAdmire the Casket of Hisham II, from Medina Azahara, on the outskirts of Córdoba.
• Take in the Cross of PearlsAdmire the Cross of Pearls, a 16th-century piece in gilded silver with enamel plaques.
• Admire the rose windowsAdmire the two rose windows from the first third of the 18th century, the work of Francesc Saladriga.
• See the Baroque bed of Our Lady of AugustLook at the theatrical Baroque bed of Our Lady of August, the work of the sculptor Lluís Bonifaç i Massó.
• Take in the Renaissance altarpiece of Saint HelenaSee the Renaissance altarpiece of Saint Helena, the work of Antoni Norri and Pere Fernández.
• Take in the Corpus Christi MonstranceAdmire the Corpus Christi Monstrance, the work of Girona goldsmith Francesc Artau, dated 1438.
• Take in the Girona BeatusSee the Girona Beatus, an illuminated manuscript from the 10th century.
• See the Chapel of the Virgin of Bell UllLook at the Chapel of the Virgin of Bell Ull, which holds a carving by Master Bartomeu.
• Examine the Collection of the Usatges of CataloniaExamine the Collection of the Usatges of Catalonia, from the 12th century.
• See the Gothic altarpiece of the PietàLook at the Gothic altarpiece of the Pietà, a 15th-century work by Jaume Cabrera.
• Examine the Seal of ErmesendaExamine the Seal of Ermesenda, linked to Countess Ermesenda of Carcassonne (972-1058).
• See the Girona BeatusLook at the Girona Beatus, one of three surviving 10th-century Beatus manuscripts.
• Take in the Tapestry of the CreationSee the Tapestry of Creation, a unique and exceptional Romanesque piece.
• Visit the Chapel of Our Lady of Gràcia i de Bell-UllSee the Chapel of Our Lady of Gràcia and Bell-Ull, in the cloister.
• Walk through the Romanesque cloisterWalk through the Romanesque cloister, a 12th-century work by the sculptor Arnau Cadell on a trapezoidal plan.
• Take in the stained-glass window by Antoni ThomasAdmire the large stained-glass window by Antoni Thomas on the south face.
• Take in the stained-glass windows of the presbyteryAdmire the stained-glass windows of the presbytery, from the 16th century and themed on the life of the Virgin.
• See the CalvaryLook at the Calvary in the centre of the ambulatory.
• Take in Saint CharlemagneSee Saint Charlemagne, a Gothic sculpture in polychrome alabaster traditionally called Charlemagne's.
• See the AngelLook at the figure of an angel at the very top of the cathedral.
• Take in the southern portico of the ApostlesSee the southern Portico of the Apostles, from the 14th century.
• See the Gothic doorway of San MiguelLook at the Gothic portal of St Michael on the north façade.

Near Cathedral of Santa María

Source: catedraldegirona.cat