Catedral de la Almudena

The Holy Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Saint Mary Royal of La Almudena, known simply as Almudena Cathedral, is a Catholic place of worship dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the invocation of the Almudena, and the episcopal see of Madrid.

Built very close to the site of the earlier and very ancient church of Santa María de la Almudena, which in turn had been raised on a mosque, the cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin of the Almudena, patroness of Madrid. The name of this virgin and of the cathedral derives from the Arabic word al-mudayna, meaning "citadel". The cathedral is located in the historic centre of the city of Madrid; the main façade faces the Royal Palace, while the façade of the transept looks towards Calle de Bailén, and access to the crypt is via the Cuesta de la Vega, at the end of Calle Mayor. Unlike most Christian churches, which are oriented east-west, the cathedral has a north-south orientation, a result of its conception as an integral part of the Royal Palace complex.

The cathedral is the main church of the Archdiocese of Madrid, seat of the archbishop and of the metropolitan chapter. It is a building 102 metres long and 73 metres high at its maximum, constructed from the late 19th century to the late 20th century, in different architectural styles: neoclassical on the exterior, neogothic on the interior and neo-Romanesque in the crypt.

It was consecrated on 15 June 1993 by Pope Saint John Paul II, during his fourth trip to Spain.