Cathedral of Valladolid

The Cathedral of Valladolid is a Renaissance-era cathedral in Valladolid, Castile and León, whose main construction started in 1589 to designs by Juan de Herrera. The building is notable for having been left incomplete relative to its original monumental design.

The cathedral’s broad west front and nave are primary points of interest on architectural tours of the city, and it sits adjacent to Valladolid’s central Plaza Mayor. Visitors commonly view the exterior massing and interior volumes from the square and surrounding streets.

Work on the cathedral began in the late 16th century under royal patronage and the influence of Herrera’s restrained Renaissance vocabulary; construction was slowed and altered over the following centuries, leaving the project unfinished. Subsequent repairs and modifications altered some original elements but did not realize the full original plan.

The cathedral occupies a central location in the historic core of Valladolid, directly beside the Plaza Mayor and within the city’s walkable central district in Castile and León.

• Unfinished design: Construction began in 1589 to plans by Juan de Herrera but the original design was never completed, leaving the cathedral noticeably unfinished compared with its intended Renaissance plan.