THE CATHEDRAL COMPLEX

The origins of the Cathedral of Tui date back to the 6th century with the creation of the bishopric by the suebian king Teodomiro. At the end of the eleventh century, work began using Santiago de Compostela as a model of a church of pilgrimage. The main style of the building is romanesque. It is designed as a stronghold, incorporating religious symbolism (the image of the Celestial Jerusalem), as well as symbolism of an authority to indicate the power the bishops had over the city.

In the beginning of the thirteenth century, the vaults and the doorway were made in gothic style. The cathedral was consecrated in 1225. Several important elements were added later, such as the thirteenth century gothic cloister which is the largest medieval cloister in Galicia. The tower of Saint Andrés was added in 1419 and subsequently in 1485, the turret of Saint Catalina was added, strengthening the Cathedral's outward aspect. From the 16th century, the addition of the bishop’s palace completed the functional character of the building.