Cathedral of San Martiño de Ourense

About this heritage

The Cathedral of San Martiño is the most emblematic monument of Ourense and one of the great Romanesque temples in Spain. Its construction began in the 12th century and it was consecrated in 1188, although over the centuries it has incorporated elements of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical styles. Built on an ancient Suevic temple, the cathedral stands out for its Latin cross plan, its three naves, and its monumental dome.

The exterior features three main portals: the Western Door, accessed by stairs from Plaza de San Martiño, composed of two sections flanked by towers and with a rose window that illuminates the interior; the South Door, accessible from Plaza del Trigo, commissioned to master Mateo; and the North Door, with a tympanum alluding to the Passion and sculptures of great artistic quality.

Inside, the highlights include the Pórtico del Paraíso, a replica of the Pórtico de la Gloria of Santiago, made between 1218 and 1248; the Renaissance altarpiece of the Main Chapel, the work of Cornelis de Holanda; the 17th-century ambulatory; and the Chapel of the Holy Christ, the most venerated, with an image brought from Finisterre in 1332. The dome, built in the 15th century by Rodrigo Badajoz, majestically crowns the crossing. The cathedral also houses the Cathedral Museum with the Treasure of San Rosendo.

To learn more

Hello! Do you want to learn about the Cathedral of San Martiño de Ourense? It is the most important building in the city and one of the most beautiful temples in Spain. Construction began almost 900 years ago, in the 12th century, and since then it has been changing and adding new things.

The cathedral has three different doors to enter: the main one, with stairs and a large round window called a rose window; the south door, which opens onto a very old square called Plaza del Trigo; and the north door, with carvings that tell the story of Jesus.

Inside, the most special feature is the Pórtico del Paraíso, which is like a stone book with many statues that taught Bible stories to people who could not read. There is also a very important chapel, the Chapel of the Holy Christ, where there is an image that, according to legend, grows hair! At the very top there is a very beautiful structure called the dome, decorated with many sculptures.

The cathedral also has a museum where very old treasures are kept, such as the staff (a special stick) of San Rosendo. It’s like visiting a castle full of stories!

To know it better

The Cathedral-Basilica of San Martiño de Ourense is one of the fundamental examples of transitional Romanesque in the Iberian Peninsula. Begun in 1157 under the episcopate of Pedro Seguín and with clear Compostelan influence, it was consecrated in 1188, completed under the bishop Lorenzo (1218-1248), to whom the Pórtico del Paraíso is attributed.

Its exterior structure, originally conceived with a defensive character, features three accesses of notable interest: the western portal, of protogothic character evidenced by its slightly pointed arch, archivolts, and rose window, flanked by the bell tower and the San Martiño tower; the southern portal, linked to the circle of master Mateo, with a richly decorated triple archivolt although lacking its original shafts; and the northern portal, with a tympanum alluding to the Passion belonging to the late 13th-century Gothic, highlighting the sculptural treatment of the folds and anatomical perfection.

The interior articulates a cruciform plan space with three naves, highlighting the Pórtico del Paraíso (1218-1248), an example of Spanish protogothic which, despite its Mateo connection, presents a formal abstraction that distances it from its Compostelan model. The presbytery is presided over by the Renaissance altarpiece by Cornelis de Holanda, with Christological, Marian, and hagiographic scenes in high relief. The ambulatory, work of Simón de Monasterio and Gómez de la Sierra (17th century), significantly altered the original chancel. The Chapel of the Holy Christ, built between 1565-1578 by Juan de Herrera and expanded by Diego de Arén in 1685, houses the crucifix brought from Finisterre in 1332, under a baldachin by Domingo de Andrade with decoration by Castro Canseco. The tripartite dome executed by Rodrigo Badajoz in the 15th century, profusely ornamented with sculptural elements, crowns the crossing.

The cathedral, declared a National Monument in 1931 and elevated to Basilica in 1887, houses the Cathedral Museum, custodian of the Treasure of San Rosendo, a set of medieval goldsmithing of exceptional value.