The New Cathedral of Lleida stands on Plaça de la Catedral in Lleida, beside the city's main shopping street. It replaced the former cathedral, La Seu Vella, after that building was turned into a fortress and garrison. Charles III of Spain gave permission and partly paid for it, with donations from Bishop Joaquín Sánchez and other citizens. Pedro Martín-Paredes Cermeño designed it, and Francisco Sabatini and Josep Prat i Delorta directed the works.
Construction ran from 1761 to 1782, and the cathedral was dedicated on May 28, 1781. It is a hall church with three naves of equal height and an ambulatory around the apse. The facade is flanked by two square towers. The style is considered the earliest Neoclassical example in Catalonia.
It was burned on May 13, 1808 during the Peninsular War, and again in 1936. A restoration from 1940 to 1955 reopened it.

Comments