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Catedral de la Santa Maria Immaculada Concepció, L' Alguer.

SARDENYA 2024

 

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Immacolata Concepzione (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Immacolata) is the most significant architectural symbol of Alghero and a clear reflection of the city's history and cultural blend.

 

Founding and Catalan Style: Construction began around 1530 under the Crown of Aragon/Spain, after Alghero was designated a diocesan seat in 1503. The initial phase was built in the Catalan-Gothic style, clearly visible in the back of the building: the presbytery with its five radial chapels and, above all, the emblematic octagonal-based Bell Tower (Campanile). This tower, with its spire adorned with colorful majolica tiles, is one of the city's most recognizable symbols and shares a design common to Catalan cathedrals (like the one in Barcelona).

 

Mix of Styles: Due to the long construction period (it wasn't consecrated until 1730), the interior of the nave and aisles were finished in a Late Renaissance style.

 

The Neoclassical Façade: The most conspicuous feature today is, ironically, a late addition: the main façade facing Piazza Duomo was rebuilt in 1862 in an imposing Neoclassical style with large Doric columns, which contrasts sharply with the rest of the structure.

 

Interior: The interior, divided into three naves, houses important artworks, including the main altar with sculptures by Giuseppe Massetti (18th century).

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Uploaded on September 24, 2025
Taken on April 3, 2024