Alcalá de Henares Cathedral
The Magistral Cathedral of Saint Justus and Saint Pastor (Spanish: Catedral de los Santos Niños Justo y Pastor) is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Together with Saint Peter's of Leuven, they are the only churches worldwide to hold the title of Magistral, as their canons are required to be doctors in Theology.
| Alcalá de Henares Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| Magistral Cathedral of Saint Justus and Saint Pastor | |
| Catedral Magistral de los Santos Niños Justo y Pastor | |
West façade in 2023. | |
| 40.480525°N 3.369258°W | |
| Location | Alcalá de Henares |
| Address | 328, Plaza de los Santos Niños |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Website | visitacatedraldealcala |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Dedication | Justus and Pastor |
| Dedicated | 23 July 1991 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Antón Egas, Enrique Egas |
| Style | Late Gothic, Mudéjar |
| Years built | 1497—1516 |
| Specifications | |
| Tower height | 62 m (203 ft 5 in) |
| Administration | |
| Metropolis | Madrid |
| Diocese | Alcalá de Henares (since 1991) |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Antonio Prieto Lucena |
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iv), (vi) |
| Designated | 1998 (22nd session) |
| Part of | University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares |
| Reference no. | 876 |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 22 December 1904 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0000085 |
The archbishop Carrillo (1446-1482) elevated the church to the rank of collegiate church. The current building was designed during the time of Cardinal Cisneros (1495-1517) he was awarded the title of "Master" and the current building was designed and constructed between 1497 and 1516 in late Gothic style typical of the age. The tower was built between 1528 and 1582.
It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1904. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the church was burned. It lost virtually all its treasures in the fire, saving some bars and some chairs from the old choir. In 1991 the diocese of Alcalá restored and elevated to the status of cathedral-master, the Diocese Complutense recovering that which was from the 5th century until 1099.