The Cadiz Cathedral, designed by Vicente de Acero, is a spectacular architectural work of art. It originally manages to combine the traditional Spanish architecture with baroque Italian forms.
Its construction is promoted during the Golden Age of the city of Cadiz. It was by the time it had the monopoly of the American trade to replace the Old Cathedral of Santa Cruz that, due to its age, had become too small.
The construction was subjected to various projects that modified the original plans. In fact, the temple was not consecrated until a century after the work began. These changes are evident in the higher areas of the Cadiz Cathedral: dome, towers and the finishing of the main façade.
The temple has a Latin cross shape with three naves, ambulatory and side chapels. There is a total of 16 chapels inside. Among them, the chapel of San Sebastián stands out, which preserves a canvas representing the saint. It dates back to 1621, and it was done by the Genoese Andrea Ansaldi. Then, San Servando and San Germán, with Baroque sculptures of Luisa Roldán. The chapel of Santa Teresa exposes the processional custody of Corpus Christi, made of silver between 1649 and 1664 on the design of Alejandro Saavedra. Finally, the Chapel, which has a neoclassical circular temple made of coloured marble and golden bronze, follows the design of 1790 by Manuel Machuca.
The crypt deserves a special mention. It was designed by Vicente Acero and completed in 1726. It is presided over by a rectangular space with niches for burials. There, there is an 17th century altar made out of Genoese marble with the image of the Virgen del Rosario in white marble. This is an image of Baroque style of high quality attributed to the Italian sculptor Alessandro Algardi. In the crypt, along with the bishops of the diocese, the illustrious Manuel de Falla and José María Pemán are buried.
