Madrid, ES

Cathedral of the Armed Forces

The Cathedral of the Armed Forces is the cathedral of the Military Ordinariate in Spain. The church was originally part of the former Bernardine monastery of Madrid, founded in 1615 by Cristóbal de Sandoval y Rojas, Duke of Uceda. The church was designed in the shape of a Latin cross by the architect Juan Gómez de Mora in 1615, but construction began in 1671, half a century after the foundation of the monastery, due to the misfortune of the favourite, and was not completed until 1744. The convent was demolished in 1972. The church was therefore purchased by the Spanish Ministry of Defence around 1980 to house the Military Ordinariate in Spain.

About this building

Key Features

  • Architecture
  • Monuments

Visitors information

  • Bus stop within 100m
  • Café within 500m

Other nearby buildings

Iglesia Arzobispal Castrense

The Arzobispal Castrense church was designed by the architect Juan Gómez Mora in the year 1615. The construction of the church began in 1671, half a century after the convent was founded; 73 years was spent in its construction, ending in 1744. The church is now commonly referred to as the Armed Forces Army Cathedral.

Wikimedia Commons/Bernard Gagnon

Basilica of San Miguel

The Basilica of San Miguel, built between 1739 and 1745 by the architect Santiago Bonavía, is one of the most beautiful Spanish Baroque churches in the city. The church of Saints Justo and Pastor was there before, dating from before the 13th century, but damaged by a fire in 1690, it was finally destroyed.

Catedral de la Almudena

The Almudena Cathedral is the most important religious building in Madrid. On June 15, 1993, its construction began on April 4, 1883 when King Alfonso XII laid the first stone. The interior of La Almudena surprises by having completely different details to other cathedrals: the ceiling and the stained-glass windows set aside the classic style to give way to bright colours and straight lines.

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