Co-cathedral of Saint Mary Major of Mérida
| Metropolitan co-cathedral of Saint Mary Major Concatedral metropolitana de San Maria la Mayor |
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Catedral of Mérida
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Mérida, Spain |
| Geographic coordinates | 38°54′58.8″N 6°20′49.7″W / 38.916333°N 6.347139°WCoordinates: 38°54′58.8″N 6°20′49.7″W / 38.916333°N 6.347139°W |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Country | Spain |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Metropolitan co-cathedral |
| Heritage designation | Bien de Interés Cultural |
| Leadership | Archbishop Santiago García |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Romanesque |
| Groundbreaking | 1239 |
| Completed | 1579 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 45 metres (148 ft) |
| Width | 30 metres (98 ft) |
The Metropolitan co-cathedral of Saint Mary Major of Mérida (Spanish: Concatedral metropolitana de San Maria la Mayor) is a Roman Catholic cathedral church in Mérida, Extremadura, western Spain. Since 1994, together with the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist of Badajoz, it is the seat of the Archdiocese of Mérida-Badajoz.
Mérida was founded in the 25 BC, with the name of Emerita Augusta, by order of Emperor Augustus, to protect a pass and a bridge over the Guadiana river. The city became one of the most important cities in the Roman empire. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, during the Visigothic period, the city maintained much of its splendor, especially under the 6th century domination of the bishops of Emerita, when it was the capital of Hispania. The see of the bishopric of Emerita was "Church of Saint Mary of Jerusalem" (Spanish: Santa María de Ierusalem).
In 713 Mérida was conquered by the Muslim army under Musa bin Nusair but it is not until February 28, 1119 that the metropolitan see of the Bishops of Emerita was transferred to Santiago de Compostela by the bull of Pope Calixtus II.
The city returned under Christians hands in 1230, when it was conquered by Alfonso IX of León. The city was attached to the Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela. The construction began on a chapel dedicated to Virgin Mary on the ruins of the Visigothic cathedral.
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