Cathedral of Jerez

History

The Cathedral of Jerez is declared as Spanish Property of Cultural Interest. It is a 17th century construction and has the Gothic, Baroque and Neo-classicist styles.

It is constructed on the ancient main Mosque of Jerez and on the Holy Saviour Church. The bell tower, which is separated of the rest of the construction, is of that period.

After the Jerez conquest by Alfonso X, it was built on the Main Mosque, the Holy Saviour Church in 1264, conserving this name until the Cathedral designation in 1980.

Since 1264 to 1695, it existed the ancient Holy Saviour church which was in ruined during the last years. Due to this, it decided a new church construction and to do this work was elected Diego Moreno Meléndez. The edifice was always constructed with the intention of improve the size and the architectural quality of others important churches like St. Michael or Santiago, since, the thought was that Church would be designated in the future like Cathedral.

Due to the construction time, 80 years, and the economical problems that the building suffered, many architects worked in this edifice as Rodrigo del Pozo, Diego Antonio Díaz, Ignacio Díaz y Juan Pina. The costs of the Cathedral construction were paid by Kingdom, private donations and City Hall.

The Cathedral was opened to the public in 1778

The interior houses a painting of Virgin Mary by Francisco Zurbarán.

Exterior description

The main style of the Cathedral is the Gothic but it is combined with others Baroque and Neo-classicist styles. The main facade is adorned with imagery and baroque motifs, and a triple gate that is accessed it by a neoclassical redoubt. This facade has three front, The Nativity on the right, the Epiphany on the left and centre reserved for Immaculate.

The bell tower is separated of the rest of the building which is the only edifice that exists of the ancient church and it is divided in two bodies. The lower body, 15th century and the gothic-mudejar style and the higher, 18th century and was built by Juan de Pina.

The Cathedral exterior view is presented by 5 naves of different elevations, which rest on the outer with buttresses and flying buttresses, as well as, a cross-nave that is connected to the main nave with transept dome. In the dome there are the sculptures of the Fathers of the Church, which were built by Jácome Vaccaro.

Also the lateral doors, Visitación and Encarnación, and the stained glass are highlights.

Interior description

The internal distribution suffered different changes to adapt the Church to the new liturgical structure.

The presbytery was disassembled to put in that place the choir, and with that change, the altar designed by Francisco Hernández-Rubio in 1896 disappeared.

The new presbytery has the ancient choir stalls that were allocated in this place. The lowest chairs were done by Bernardo Serrano during 1757-1768, and the taller chairs were designed by Torcuato Cayón and are rococo style and were done by Jácome Vaccaro in 1778.

The altar was designed by José Menéndez-Pidal in 1965.

The head of the side nave of the Epistle is presided by the Immaculate altar, which is an altarpiece of the 17th century.

On the opposite side, is located the Cristo de la Viga's altarpiece which was done by Agustín de Medina y Flores in 1741. In 1778 was restored by Jácome Vaccaro who included a pavilion and rococo decoration.

The Cristo de la Viga is a gothic crucifix sculpture of the 15th century.

The Cathedral does not have chapels with the sanctuary exception, but has altars in the walls in the last naves.

In the front end of the nave is located the St. Jose altar, baroque altarpiece of the 18th century. Also, in the altarpiece is located the sculpture of Virgen del Socorro who is the co-patron saint of the city and was done in the 16th century.

The stained glass was manufactured in France, in the 19th century. The stained glass of the central nave represent to apostolate, above the end of the gospel front side, it represents to Ecce Homo; above the end of the epistle front side, the Immaculate; in the east front, the Saviour; and above the main door, St. Michael.

The lectern, which is located in the Cathedral museum, was made at the same time that the choir stalls by Jácome Vaccaro.

The sanctuary is attributed to Juan Bargas who built it in 1801. The internal distribution is divided in two by detached Corinthian columns. The chapel had a neo-classicist decoration with an altarpiece of Rodríguez Barreño which had carved capitals, and a jasper tabernacle. The altarpiece was presided by a painting of the "Good Shepherd" of Juan Rodríguez (currently it is in the meeting room). In the superior background is located the "Mystic Lamb" also it is the work of the same painter, and it is one of the ancient elements that the original image of the chapel had, because of, it was redecorated. In this redecoration the altarpiece was removed to put a neo-medieval temple made ​​in France which was donated by the Marquise Carmen Núñez de Villavicencio.

Visit

Schedules: Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 18:30.

The price is 5€ each person. (Except the habitants of Jerez: Free entry)

Worship schedule: Sunday at 11:00.

Contact and location

Address: Plaza de la Encarnación

Postal Code: 11403

Telephone:  956 169 059

Website: www.diocesisdejerez.es