Church Santa Cruz (Old Cadiz Cathedral)

This historic church, known as the Old Cathedral of Cádiz, is an absolute gem in the heart of the city. The architecture is stunning, with beautiful vaulted ceilings and an impressive baroque altar. The atmosphere inside is peaceful and contemplative, perfect for reflection. It's remarkable to think about its rich history dating back centuries. A must-visit for anyone interested in religious art and Spanish colonial heritage.

I didn’t go inside as it was past 4:30pm and I still have a few places that I want to see before the sun sets. The exterior of the cathedral is beautiful especially with the sunlight so I took photos from different angle outside of the cathedral.

These 'working' churches that haven't been completely renovated and are frequently used by locals for worship are an excellent find. Very interesting and beautiful to view.

The old cathedral of Cadiz is a worthwhile stop for a few minutes particularly since it is less busy than the Cathedral. Beautiful interior and a quiet(er) place away from the majority of the tourist.

Amazing sculptures...worth the trip just to see them

A nice historical place to see in Cadiz.

Surprising and interesting. The interior is obviously very old, converted from a mosque after the re conquest. The religious sculptures are amazing and to a non catholic they are really weird

One of the monuments of Reconquista in Cádiz, the “Old cathedral”, hidden behind the “New one”, mosque turned into a catholic church.

Catedral de Cadiz is the oldest church in the city. It was originally built in the 16th century and was reconstructed over the years. Today it is an active Catholic parish, and it also offers tours of the cathedral, clock tower, and house of accounting. Currently tours have a fee for non-disabled, non-resident people over the age of 12. I felt most interested in the beautiful exterior architecture of the church. The front facade has two towers and three porticoes that contain Corinthian columns and sculptures of patron saints.

I am not a fan of paying to see a church...more and more....churches in Spain are charging to visit. This one is the main church in Cadiz. The Cathedral of Cádiz "Santa Cruz sobre el mar" or Santa Cruz sobre las Aguas" is also known by the people of Cádiz as the New Cathedral, as opposed to the Old, built in the 16th century on the old Gothic Cathedral ordered to be built by Alfonso X The Wise. The Gothic Cathedral endured with some reforms carried out in the 15th and 16th centuries until it was burned by the Anglo-Dutch squadron commanded by Admiral Howard and the Earl of Essex, which attacked, invaded and sacked Cádiz in 1596 until it was abandoned, already burned. in the middle of July. People can enjoy the main area and/or climb up the bell tower. I guess it's OK.

The crowning site in Cádiz, IMO, mostly because of the Bell Tower views! 6€ pp will get you inside, plus looooong audio guide, plus crypt, plus bell tower. * * * Views from bell tower are worth every cent. * * * My hs Humainities teacher (now a docent at the PMA) was OBSESSED with cathedrals, so he had us visit every cathedral inside 7 countries, throughout our Euro trip with him. From this, I can say that not all cathedrals are highly ornamental like this one. Romanesque aren't as decorated, nor are even Gothic. This one is Baroque, so it was just crazy fretwork on every square inch of the walls, floor, ceiling, windows―just everywhere! And on every medium, too, stone, wood, metal, tapestry, etc. And somehow, it is not too much. Somehow, it comes together in harmony, and that is the magic of Baroque style, IMO. As my teach, Mr. W, would say, Baroque music mimics the material aesthetics, with that ornamented harmony. So upon entering, you start your audio tour, and it leads you down the nave, and around all the radiating chaples, explaining their histories and the relics or artwork in each one. Then it guides you through the crypt downstairs. The explanations are interesting but extremely long and detailed, and frankly, we got to the point where we skipped a lot because it was too time-consuming for our schedule. Random, but there is all this netting going on up in the domes, with some kind of detritus caught in it. Looks like bird or bat activity, or both. YUK! Messed up my pictures! :-( When satisfied with your audio, turn it in at the front, and head outside to the adjacent entry for the bell tower. Have your bar coded receipt ready for them to scan at that window, and up you go. It is a winding ramp, not stairs, but that is small consolation, it is a HARD climb! The tower is 40 meters (131ft) high, but the walking distance, 'round and 'round, is 72 meters. But, alas, the view at the top―WORTH IT! :-)

One of the most beautiful Cathedrals we saw while in Spain. It is an easy short walk from the cruise post just past the Plaza. It is huge so you can not miss it. The main altar is incredible and the side altars all tell a story of a moment in time. We did not have to pay an admission as we arrived on a Sunday just before mass. It was a high mass by the Bishop. It was an amazing experience as it was entirely in Spanish. And the Bishop spoke for over 20 minutes. We did not have time to go up in the tower so we will save it for next time. This is a must see if you visit Cadiz.

Price includes going to the top of the tower. No steps, just a circular walkway to the top. It's worth the effort, in my opinion. Church was okay. Audio guide in English was included with the price. Inside of church could be better maintained. Nets across ceiling was kind of odd. (Birds?)

This spectacular cathedral is beautiful outside and in. Admission is 5€ per adult and includes an audio guide. There are multiple languages available, including English. When you see an audio placard with a number on it, type the corresponding number into your audio guide for playback. Hold the audio guide to your ear like a telephone and enjoy all the information you are about to hear. Spend some time in the crypt and play with the acoustics. Admire the immense organs, beautiful sculptures, and historic paintings. If you want to listen to the entire audio guide, plan about an hour inside. There is a restroom just to the left of the 3rd audio placard.

Touring here was probably the best 5€ I spent in Cádiz. Perfectly located centrally to a big market square, surrounded with cafes, shops and other historical landmarks. Jaw dropping architecture that cannot be missed. The ticket price includes a very modernized and easy to use audio guide (your choice of English, German, French, Spanish and I think maybe one or two more languages) that correspond to 22 marked sites inside the church. The first placard gives you a ~5 minute overview of the history of the cathedral and its construction. The rest of the sites are 2-4 minutes each and give very detailed info on the painting, alter, or landmark in the church. The altar and choir seating are absolutely beautiful. The crypt was serene and very interesting. They have a few fresh drinking fountains that I found extremely convenient. The ticket also includes a climb up to the clock tower -- try to time it so you can be up there when the bells chime. The tour takes anywhere from 45 minutes - 1hr 30 minutes depending on how thorough you want your experience to be. The view from the top is breathtaking. Definitely a must see!