Getafe Cathedral Church

Address: Catedral de Getafe, Getafe, Community of Madrid, Spain

Hours: Typically open daily; times vary (often mornings and afternoons; check locally)

Admission: Free (cathedral entry generally free; some chapels or concerts may charge)

Getafe Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of Santa María Magdalena, is the principal church of the city of Getafe in the Community of Madrid. The building combines elements from multiple periods and serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Getafe.

The church’s exterior and interior include architectural features from later medieval and early modern phases, with a notable bell tower that forms part of the town’s skyline. Visitors come to see the church as Getafe’s principal religious building and civic landmark.

The building grew over several centuries with later modifications; when the Diocese of Getafe was created in the late 20th century the church became its cathedral. The fabric reflects phases of local architectural development rather than a single construction campaign.

Sited in Getafe, a suburban city to the south of Madrid, the cathedral stands in the city’s central area and is linked by commuter rail and roads to central Madrid.

• Proximity to Madrid: Getafe lies roughly 13 kilometres south of central Madrid, making the cathedral easily reachable by Madrid’s commuter rail and road links.

What to See#

• Bell tower: The cathedral’s bell tower, a conspicuous vertical element in Getafe’s skyline that predates the building’s designation as a cathedral.

Getafe is reachable by Cercanías (commuter train) from Madrid (lines C-3/C-4 to Getafe Centro); the cathedral is a short walk from the station in the town center.

• Visit during a weekday morning to see the interior with fewer visitors and to hear services that reveal the cathedral's acoustic qualities.
• The cathedral is close to Plaza General Palacio and local cafés - combine a visit with a stroll through Getafe's historic quarter.
• Check local listings for organ recitals or choral events; hearing the space used musically is a different experience from viewing the architecture.