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Cathedral Description
On the east side of the old town, just inside the walls, is the massive Cathedral of San Salvador, begun in 1091 but not completed until the 14th century. Built of granite, it has a fortress-like aspect, and the apse forms part of the town's circuit of walls. Of the two towers on the west front, with the main entrance, only the northern one (14th C.) is complete. The doorway (15th C.) was the work of Juan Guas but was altered in 1779. The figural decoration on the north doorway, the Apostles' Doorway (c. 1200), dates from the 15th century and was originally on the west doorway. The sculpture, which has suffered badly from air pollution, is at present in course of restoration.
Hobbies & Activities category: Christian sites
Cathedral Highlights

Cathedral - Interior

A striking feature of the cathedral interior, with aisles flanking the nave, is the red and white granite stonework of the walls, which dates from the early building phase. From the crossing there
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Cloister

On the south side of the cathedral, entered through a Romanesque doorway, is the 14th century cloister.

Museo de la Catedral

In the south transept is the entrance to the Cathedral Museum, which has five rooms. In the adjoining room, which mostly contains liturgical utensils and sculpture, the items of most interest are a
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Monstrance

The last room in the Cathedral Museum contains only one thing - a magnificent silver monstrance by Juan de Arfe (1571), 1.7m/5ft 7in. high.

Sacristy

The finest room, following an anteroom, is the Sacristy, notable particularly for its ribbed vaulting and an alabaster group by Isidro Villoldo and Pedro de Salamanca.
Address
Ávila Cathedral
Plaza Catedral
Ávila
Spain
Hours
October 1 to April 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Closed13:3013:3013:3013:3013:3013:3013:30
Open15:3015:3015:3015:3015:3015:3015:30
Closed18:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:00
May 1 to September 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:309:309:309:309:309:309:30
Closed13:3013:3013:3013:3013:3013:3013:30
Open15:3015:3015:3015:3015:3015:3015:30
Closed20:0020:0020:0020:0020:0020:0020:00
Cost
AdultAdmission Cost
Child 9 & under
Tips
Closed during Holy Week and for services during religious festivals.
Do-It-Yourself Tours
Attractions Near Cathedral, Avila