Almería Cathedral
In 1522 a huge earthquake destroyed the mosque at Almeria, two years later construction was started of the present cathedral on the site of the ruined mosque. The cathedral was built with fortified towers at each corner with cannons placed in each of the towers, for use during the frequent attacks by Barbary Pirates. The city population would retreat into the cathedral at these times of trouble and the cathedral became a defensive structure for the city. In fact it looks more like a castle than a cathedral.
Also of interest at the cathedral are its two elegantly decorated renaissance portals, the wood carvings in the choir stalls and some works of art in its side chapels by artists such as Murillo, Ribera and Alonso Cano. The architecture is a combination of Gothic and Renaissance.

The spacious interior has a Gothic ribbed ceiling and makes use of jasper and local marble in some of its baroque and neo-classical trimmings. The chapel behind the main altar contains the tomb of Bishop Villalan, founder of the cathedral, and is another work of de Orea, as are the choir with its stalls made out of walnut, and the Sacristia Mayor with its fine carved stone roof, windows and arches.

There is also a Renaissance cloister that was once the old parade ground of the fortress.


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