P107 - Spain - Almudena Cathedral in Madrid

Almudena Cathedral, Madrid, Spain

Santa María la Real de La Almudena is a Catholic cathedral in Madrid.

Plans for the construction of a new cathedral for Madrid dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena began in the 16th century, but the slow construction did not begin until 1879. Francisco de Cubas, the Marquis of Cubas, was the architect who designed and directed the construction in a Gothic revival style. Construction ceased completely during the Spanish Civil War. The project was abandoned until 1950, when Fernando Chueca Goitia adapted the plans of de Cubas to a neoclassical style exterior to match the grey and white façade of the Palacio Real, which stands directly opposite. and was not completed until 1993, when the cathedral was consecrated by Pope John Paul II. On May 22, 2004, the marriage of Felipe, Prince of Asturias to Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano (who was thereafter known as Letizia, Princess of Asturias) took place at the cathedral.

The Neo-Gothic interior is uniquely modern, with chapels and statues of contemporary artists, in heretogeneous styles, from historical revivals to "pop-art" decor.

The Neo-Romanesque crypt houses a 16th century image of the Virgen de la Almudena. Further along, the Calle Mayor is the site of excavations which have unearthed remains of Moorish and medieval city walls.

阿尔穆德纳大教堂 (Catedral de la Almudena)：

早在16世纪西班牙国王卡洛斯一世(Carlos I)统治时期，就开始计划建造马德里的第一座大教堂。在随后提出的众多方案中，最终选中了建筑师弗朗西斯科德古巴斯(Francisco de Cubas)来完成这一工程。他的设计采用了哥特式风格，但吸收了当时浪漫主义的特点。

1883年开始动工修建教堂，但是并未竣工。 修建过程中一直争论不断，不仅仅因为它的设计融合了多种风格，而且还也多次修改设计方案。

大教堂的修建前后持续了100多年，历任六位不同的建筑师。 建成之后的教堂与弗朗西斯科德古巴斯(Francisco de Cubas)侯爵最初的设计已经大相径庭了。

1955年，教堂的内庭回廊修建完成。五年之后，教堂的正立面也相继竣工。 但直到1993年，才在教皇保罗二世（Papa Juan Pablo II）的主持下举行了开幕仪式。

阿尔穆德纳大教堂长102米，高72米，融汇了多种风格： 外部的新古典主义、内部的新哥特主义以及墓室的新浪漫主义。

教堂的正立面上建有两座塔楼，正对马德里皇宫对面的兵器广场（plaza de la Armería）。教堂袖廊上的双穹顶，内外都是拱形，八角形的圆柱形墙壁上开了四扇大玻璃窗。
与其它东西朝向的教堂不同，阿尔穆德纳教堂呈南北朝向， 主要是考虑把它当作马德里皇宫整体的一部分。 教堂采用了Novelda (阿利坎特)的石料和Colmenar Viejo (马德里)的花岗石。

References sources : wikipedia, 马德里旅游集团