What to see in the Cathedral of Oviedo and the Holy Chamber

If you read our article dedicated to the city of Oviedo, you may have already discovered that one of the most important monuments in the city is the Oviedo Cathedral, a Gothic temple also known as Sancta Ovetensis.

Here we are going to delve a little deeper into this cathedral, which is one of the Gothic jewels of the Principality of Asturias. We also give you practical information for your visit to the Cathedral of Oviedo, such as its opening hours and prices.

On the other hand, if you want to get to know the Cathedral in an exceptional way, we recommend this guided tour of the Cathedral of Oviedo

Visit the Cathedral of Oviedo

What to see outside the Cathedral of Oviedo

The first thing that strikes you when you arrive at the square where the cathedral is located is that it only has one tower.

Contrary to what usually happens in Gothic cathedrals, it only has one. In the initial design it was planned to have two towers, but finally only one was built, supposedly due to lack of budget.

The tower is 80 meters high and is made up of 5 floors that decrease in size as you go up, being crowned by a pavilion with four cylindrical towers. On the second floor there is a very interesting clock.

The façade of the cathedral consists of three doors that give access to each of the naves that make up its interior. The main door also has some figures that represent the kings Fruela I and Alfonso II, the promoters of the cathedral, back in the 8th and 9th centuries. To access the temple, use the door on the left.

The Holy Chamber and the interior of the Cathedral of Oviedo

If the exterior of the Cathedral of Oviedo is beautiful, its interior is even more beautiful.

It is made up of 3 naves, the largest of which is the central one, 10 meters wide and 67 meters long, reaching 20 meters in height.

One of the places to visit inside is the Holy Chamber, which was declared a World Heritage Site.

The Treasures and Relics of the Cathedral of Oviedo have been kept here since the 9th century, among which the Holy Ark, the Holy Shroud, the Cross of the Angels, the Ark of the Agates and the Victoria Cross stand out. In addition, the Romanesque sculptures around the Holy Chamber should also be highlighted.

The lateral naves are formed by chapels in which different saints are venerated, among which the Chapel of Santa Eulalia de Mérida, patron saint of the diocese of Oviedo, and above all the Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Rey Casto, where some were buried. of the Asturian monarchs and which is therefore the first royal pantheon in Spain.

There you can see the tombs of different kings and their wives. Before entering this chapel you have to admire the spectacular entrance door. In the main nave is the Main Chapel, located in the apse and where you can admire the fantastic Main Altarpiece, dedicated to San Salvador and with 24 scenes from the life of Jesus.

No less important is the Crypt of Santa Leocadia, which was part of the ecclesiastical complex designed by Alfonso II and is therefore one of the oldest places in the city.

It is located just below the Holy Chamber and is rectangular in shape with a vaulted ceiling. You should also visit the Cloister and the Chapter House inside, the oldest parts of the Gothic area of ​​the Cathedral of Oviedo.

History of the Cathedral of Oviedo

In the place where the Cathedral of Oviedo is today, there was already a basilica dedicated to San Salvador.

This basilica was built by order of the Asturian king Fruela I in the 8th century, although in 794 it was destroyed by the Muslims.

His son, Alfonso II ordered the construction of a set of buildings made up of several churches and a bishop’s residence on the same land.

In the following centuries, several reforms and extensions were carried out until the beginning of the 13th century when the chapter house and the cloister began to be reformed in a Gothic style. It was in the year 1382 when the construction of the Gothic cathedral that we know today began in works that lasted until the 16th century with the construction of the façade, the portico and its tower.

If you want more information you can access the official page of the Cathedral of Oviedo.