Murcia Cathedral

Murcia cathedral was begun in 1394 in Gothic style and finished over four centuries, which left it a composite: a Gothic body, a Renaissance chapel, and a west facade completed in 1754 by Jaime Bort that is among the best baroque work in Spain, a concave and convex screen of sculpture and broken pediments rising above the square. The Capilla de los Velez, built between 1490 and 1507, has an extraordinary star-vaulted decagonal interior in late Gothic. The bell tower, at ninety-three metres, is the second tallest in Spain and was built in five stages over two centuries, each in the style of its period, so climbing it passes from Renaissance through baroque. The heart of Alfonso X is buried in the cathedral.

What you actually see

• The baroque facade - a 1754 screen of sculpture by Jaime Bort.
• The Capilla de los Velez - a decagonal chapel with a star vault.
• The bell tower - ninety-three metres built in five stages over two centuries.
• The Gothic nave - the fourteenth-century body behind the later front.

When to go

March to June and October to November; Murcia is among the hottest cities in Spain in summer. The tower climb is unshaded and closes in extreme heat. Services close the nave periodically.

Honest expectations

The tower is a long climb of ramps and stairs with limited openings. The interior is dark and the chapel often gated. Murcia sees relatively few visitors and services are geared to residents.

Nearby

The Real Casino and the Segura riverfront are close; Caravaca and Lorca lie west.