Santa Maria Cathedral

The cathedral crowns Dalt Vila, yet its history involves more than one building campaign. Santa Maria church followed the Catalan conquest of 1235 and received medieval extensions and later alterations. Cathedral status arrived in 1782, so the building and its ecclesiastical rank belong to different moments. Begin with tower and apse, then compare their language with the nave remodelled in the eighteenth century. Reading separate parts helps identify each period's contribution. Change position in the square to look towards the harbour, then turn back to the façades: the height explains both the commanding view and the effort of reaching it. Check current access for the church and Diocesan Museum; worship can affect tourist visits.