Gems among Spanish Cathedrals

This well-researched, easy-to-use guide to eight Spanish cathedrals and a basilica provides profiles of each, as well as their medieval settings. The locations of these special churches range from northwest Spain, down through Castile-Leon, to Andalusia, and on up to Catalonia. Spain's historic churches present a complex mix of architectural and decorative styles: from Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque--as well as important Moorish influences. They are special in other ways, for example the lavish use of gold and silver, and the great proliferation of often extravagant high altars, choirs, chapels, tombs and monuments. The Christian reconquest of the Moors played an important role. This book is designed to help those who are curious about the story behind historic Spanish churches, and would like to have some understanding of what they are seeing during their visits without getting bogged down with masses of personages and technical details. Part One provides background on Spain's architectural history, from the Romans, to the Moorish influences, focusing on those which were dominant during the Christian era. Part Two consists of profiles of the nine churches. The guide is lavishly illustrated with color photos and a floor plan with suggested visit sequence for each church.