Cathedral of the Savior of Zaragoza

La Seo, Zaragoza’s Cathedral of the Savior, stands on Plaza de la Seo beside the Museum of the Roman Forum of Caesaraugusta. Its Romanesque beginnings and later Mudéjar, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque additions give the building a distinctive mix of styles. Inside, take time to look closely at the chapels, wood altarpiece, choir and collection of medieval tapestries. An audio guide is available in several languages, and the tapestry museum adds another reason to visit. Photography is not permitted inside.

A cathedral shaped over centuries

La Seo stands on Plaza de la Seo and is commonly distinguished from Zaragoza’s other cathedral, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. The church occupies a site associated with one of the city’s first mosques, built during the period of Moorish rule. A Romanesque church replaced it in the 12th century. After Zaragoza became an independent diocese in the 14th century, the church became its cathedral and underwent further changes.

Those successive building periods are visible in the mix of Romanesque, Mudéjar, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque work. The Baroque bell tower dates to the 18th century, while Mudéjar decoration can be seen on the façade. La Seo’s architecture records several periods of Zaragoza’s history within one building.

Details inside La Seo

Inside, the cathedral has a basilica plan with five naves and six sections covered by ribbed vaults. Its chapels contain individual works of art and decoration, so a slow circuit gives you more to notice than a quick look down the main space. The wood altarpiece and choir are among the interior details to seek out.

The audio guide is available in several languages, with versions for adults and children. It can help put the building’s different artistic periods and the details of its chapels into context. Photography is not allowed inside, so plan to look rather than take pictures.