Catedral de Santa Maria La Mayor (Cathedral of Saint Mary the Great), Cartagena

Cathedral of Saint Mary the Great, built between the 13th and 16th centuries, occupies a site layered with earlier history, overlooking the Roman Theater. The cathedral is traditionally associated with the arrival of Saint James the Greater, who is believed to have landed here in the early 1st century to spread Christianity across the Iberian Peninsula.

The structure originally followed a Gothic plan, later enriched with Renaissance elements as it evolved. Inside, it once featured a single nave lined with chapels, while the exterior combined solid stone construction with refined decorative details. Although much of the building now lies in ruins, surviving walls, arches, and fragments of façades still convey the scale and significance of what was once the city’s main cathedral.

The cathedral was heavily damaged during the Spanish Civil War and was never fully rebuilt. Even so, parts of the structure continued to be used for religious purposes into the late 20th century, while archaeological excavations began in 1958. The cathedral is closely linked to the nearby Roman Theater Museum, as the museum route passes through underground corridors beneath the ruins. These passages reveal archaeological layers uncovered during excavations, including Roman walls and mosaics. In recent years, the site has taken on a new cultural role, serving as a venue for concerts during the “Sea of Music” festival.