Cathedral of San Salvador (Oviedo)

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Coordinates: 43°21′45.30″N 5°50′35.09″W / 43.3625833, -5.8430806

The Cathedral of San Salvador is a large cathedral placed in the centre of Oviedo, in the Asturias region of northern Spain.

Cathedral of San Salvador

The primitive cathedral was built between 791-842 by order of King Alfonso II of Asturias The Chaste. The primitive 9th century basilica was later rebuilt in a late Gothic style, but it keeps also some Romanesque, Renaissance and Baroque elements.

Pre-Romanesque: on the upper floor of the Holy Chamber (the Chapel of Saint Michael) the Apostolate sculpture group is found, as well as the Jewels of the Asturian monarchy (the Victory Cross, the Cross of the Angels, the Agates’ Box, etc.) and the Holy Coffer with its relics. The 11th century Romanesque tower of the old basilica may still be seen.

Gothic: Most of the cathedral was built in a late Gothic style. The works begun in 1388, with the rising of a chapter room (covered with a great eight-sided dome) and the cloister (whose construction delayed through two hundred years: tracery windows show the evolution of styles from High to Flamboyant Gothic). Years later, around 1400, the choir was started in a late classic Gothic style. Then the main body was built following the Flamboyant style, in fashion by the time: the vaults and tracery are the best examples of the mentioned Flamboyant aesthetic. The west gate was designed by Juan de Badajoz, who initially planned two towers at both sides of this facade. Troubles with money forced the architects to build only one of the towers, in a very late Gothic style. Gil de Hontañón finished the top of the tower in a beautiful Renaissance style by the 16th century. The 16th century altarpiece has a great collection of sculpture scenes representing Christ's life.

Renaissance and Baroque: in the ambulatory and the side chapels. The Baroque chapel of the Chaste King (18th century), contains the pantheon of the Asturian kings. The original east chapels of the Gothic building were rebuilt in the 18th century, when a new Baroque ambulatory was raised.