List of cathedrals in Spain
This list presents the cathedrals in Spain, as formally recognised by the Spanish Episcopal Conference. It comprises all 87 active cathedrals and co-cathedrals in the country. All of these institutions are Roman Catholic; cathedrals belonging to other Christian denominations are noted separately below, as are former Roman Catholic cathedrals.
A cathedral is the principal church of a Christian diocese and is distinguished by housing the cathedra, or bishop’s seat, which symbolises episcopal authority. Owing to the strict definitional criteria applied here, several of Spain’s most architecturally or culturally prominent churches fall outside the scope of this list. Examples include Barcelona’s Basilica of the Sagrada Família and Santa María del Mar; the Basilica of Covadonga; the Poblet Abbey; the Hermitage of El Rocío; and the monasteries of El Escorial and Guadalupe.
Christianity was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula during the Roman period, and some of the earliest cathedrals were later constructed under the Visigothic Kingdom. Only minimal remains of these structures survive today, largely as foundational elements beneath present‑day cathedrals such as those in Barcelona and Palencia. After the progressive Reconquista of Islamic Al-Andalus, new cathedrals were erected atop former mosques in the Romanesque style. Notable examples from this era include the cathedrals of Santiago de Compostela, Zamora, and the Old Cathedral of Salamanca. Concurrently, the Mudéjar style also emerged in Castile, a synthesis of Islamic and Christian architectural traditions that extended into Aragón. Its most celebrated expression is found in the Teruel Cathedral. The spread of Gothic architecture, from France along the pilgrimage route of the Way of Saint James, exerted substantial influence on ecclesiastical construction in northern Spain, such as those of Burgos and León. As territories further south were reclaimed, Gothic principles were quickly adopted for new cathedrals, including those of Toledo and Seville—the latter being the largest Gothic church in the world. A distinctive local Gothic tradition endured in Spain longer than in many other European regions, with major works such as Segovia Cathedral and the New Cathedral of Salamanca continuing well into the 16th century.
Although Renaissance architecture initially met resistance for being perceived as foreign or outdated, it eventually gained acceptance and was employed in the construction of significant buildings such as Granada Cathedral, erected on the site of the last Islamic stronghold in Spain. By the 17th century, wealth acquired from the Americas enabled the flourishing of elaborate Baroque architecture, exemplified by the redesigned façade of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral and the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza. Later developments in post‑Gothic styles saw Spanish cathedrals move away from the conventional Latin‑cross floor plan towards more open designs. A small number of cathedrals also incorporate modern architectural elements; Madrid’s Almudena Cathedral, not completed until 1993, is an eclectic synthesis of several reinterpretations of historical styles.
Today, Spanish cathedrals function not only as centres of religious life but also as significant cultural and architectural landmarks. They attract millions of visitors each year, playing a vital role in national tourism. Santiago de Compostela Cathedral—an important pilgrimage destination for centuries—received a record 2.6 million visitors in 2017. Twenty‑four Spanish cathedrals have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, either individually, as in the case of Burgos, or as components of larger historic areas, such as the old towns of San Cristóbal de La Laguna or Ibiza. With the exception of two, all are protected as national cultural monuments.
List of Roman Catholic Cathedrals
Bold indicates seat of an archdiocese.| Name | Location | Autonomous Community | Diocese | Dedication | Notes | Images | ||||||
| Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist | Albacete |  Castile-La ManchaFormer Roman Catholic CathedralsThis list includes notable historical buildings that held the see of the bishop until it was moved, merged or suppressed. Buildings that once have held the see of current titular sees are not included.
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Andalusia