Description
Tortosa Cathedral is one of the city's most iconic monuments and one of the finest examples of Catalan Gothic architecture. Standing at the foot of Suda Castle, it occupies a site that has served as Tortosa's religious centre for more than two thousand years: first the forum of Roman Dertosa, then the Visigothic episcopal seat, and later the Great Mosque of the Andalusian city.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria was chosen by public vote as one of the Seven Treasures of Tortosa's Cultural Heritage during the city's celebration as Catalan Capital of Culture 2021, recognising its outstanding historical, architectural and artistic importance.
Construction of the present cathedral began in 1347 and continued for almost four centuries. Despite this lengthy building period, the monument displays remarkable stylistic unity, making it one of the most significant examples of Catalan Gothic architecture. Its impressive Baroque façade, completed in the eighteenth century, provides a magnificent conclusion to one of southern Catalonia's most ambitious architectural projects.
The cathedral's interior impresses visitors with its spaciousness and light. The church consists of three aisles, without a transept, with side chapels built between the buttresses and covered by elegant ribbed vaults. One of its most distinctive architectural features is the double ambulatory, an exceptional design within Catalan Gothic architecture that allows visitors to walk completely around the sanctuary.
Among the cathedral's many artistic treasures is the magnificent High Altarpiece of Saint Mary of the Star, a large gilded and polychrome masterpiece. Special attention should also be given to the pulpits in the central nave and, above all, to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Cinta, regarded as one of the masterpieces of Catalan Baroque art. Built using pink jasper from Tortosa together with other fine marbles, this chapel is a remarkable sanctuary dedicated to the city's patron saint.
The monumental complex also includes the Gothic cloister, with its distinctive trapezoidal layout, accessed through the elegant Olive Gate, a beautifully crafted Baroque entrance. The cloister preserves carved capitals, medieval tombstones, Renaissance remains and many other elements reflecting the cathedral's long history.
The visit continues in the Permanent Exhibition of the Artistic and Documentary Collection, housed in the former canonical buildings and accessed through the Palace Gate. The exhibition presents more than nine centuries of history through an outstanding collection that includes Roman, Visigothic and Arabic inscriptions, paintings, sculptures, illuminated manuscripts, parchments, tapestries, gold and silverwork, and the magnificent 16th-century choir stalls, considered one of the cathedral's greatest artistic treasures.
Today, Tortosa Cathedral remains the city's foremost historic landmark. Its architecture, exceptional artistic heritage and more than two thousand years of history make it an essential visit for anyone wishing to discover the rich cultural legacy of the Ebro Lands.
Visitor Information
Admission fees
- General admission: €5.00
- Seniors, Youth Card holders and large families: €4.00
- Children (10–16 years): €4.00
- Groups (minimum 20 people): €3.50
