Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Cathedral

This Cathedral was an abbey in the VIII Century and a collegiate church in the XIII Century. It has three naves with four bays. The characteristic that made this monument to be unique was that it is composed by two superimposed temples with same floor. The lower temple, known as “crypt or Christ´ s parish”, was built around the year 1200 over other buildings that belonged to the Roman times. The upper temple, today Santander Cathedral- Basilica, was built in the middle of the XIII Century. The presbytery has three polygonal chapels.

It has a rib vault with ogives supported by columns of cross- shaped pillar. Its cloister is square with pointed arches. It is not decorated.

Inside, we can find Menéndez Pelayo´ s mausoleum by Victorio Macho, which is the burial place of the Saint Martyrs (St. Emeterio and St. Celedonio) whose remains arrived to Portus Victoriae (the old Roman Santander) by ship.