Santa María Cathedral

Santa María tells Gasteiz’s evolution through structural problems and repairs as well as architecture. The church became a cathedral in 1862; difficulties forced its closure in 1994, and restoration has been shared with visitors through the Open for Restoration programme since 1999. This changes the experience: instead of viewing only a finished monument, you can understand how a historic building is studied and conserved. Ask what each intervention reveals, looking for differences between inherited fabric and additions made during recovery. This is the cathedral high in the old town, not the New Cathedral beside La Florida. Check your booked visit format and reception point, since included spaces depend on the route. Allow time to arrive through the Almond’s streets and hear the explanation before concentrating on a single interior photograph.