How to visit the Cathedral of Murcia and climb the bell tower: schedules, prices

My first “contact” with the Murcia city It was quite a distance. I explain.

I was going down the road to visit Cartagena and we passed through the Murcia ring road, a city where an imposing tower caught my attention that turned out to be that of the cathedral.

Now as we plan our most recent trip to Murcia, a city that was the first time we visited, we were already aware that the most outstanding monument of the city was precisely its cathedral.

Indeed, Cathedral and the square where it is located, in the Cardinal Belluga Square, is one of the emblematic places of the historic center of Murcia.

It is a must-see on your getaway to this Levantine city, during which you will see corners of great artistic wealth.

Curiosities history cathedral Murcia

La history of the cathedral of Murcia It dates back to the year 1394, when construction began on the remains of the main mosque de la ciudad.

The main work finished in 1462, but in reality in the Murcia cathedral Various additions have been built until the end of the 18th century.

This has marked one of the main characteristics of this beautiful building, a large mix of architectural styles.

In this regard, the aforementioned tower is one of the elements that will attract your attention the most in the Murcia cathedral.

What to see when visiting Murcia Cathedral

At the outset I will tell you that it is a bell tower separated from the main building, in the style, for example, of the bell towers of the cathedrals of the cities of the Italian Tuscany.

Murcia Cathedral bell tower

It is a Renaissance style tower made in various phases, the first body of which began to be built at the beginning of the 16th century, precisely by Florentine artists.

The second body was built by artists from Cantabria, maintaining the florentine style, and the third and last body of the bell tower of Murcia cathedral It was already completed during the 18th century.

The final result is a tower with a total height of 95 meters, including the weather vane, making it the second tallest tower in Spain after that of the Giralda of Seville.

Baroque doorway of Murcia Cathedral

But although from a distance the most distinctive element of the Murcian cathedral is said tower, or at least that is what I perceived at the time, when you arrive at the aforementioned Cardinal Belluga Square you find yourself before its iconic image, the imafront baroque style.

It is an imposing front built in three clearly defined sections and whose doors give access to the respective naves, although the main one, the Door of Forgiveness, it is only opened on the occasion of festivities or special ceremonies.

If you enter the cathedral from the north façade, where the bell tower stands, you will do so from the Gate of Chains, plateresque style, while on the south façade you have the Gate of the Apostles, plateresque gothic style.

Vélez Chapel in Murcia Cathedral

Now, it is inside the Murcia cathedral where you find its greatest artistic wealth, and specifically, in one of its corners.

This is the spectacular Vélez Chapel, from the time of the Catholic kings, an imposing and beautiful corner of flamboyant gothic style culminated with a star vault influenced by the Alhambra of Granada.

In this chapel you can also see influences from the Manueline Gothic style as a result of the participation in its construction of Portuguese craftsmen.

You will have a clear reference to the exceptional dimensions of this chapel, whose floor protrudes from that of the cathedral, when you see its exterior, where you should notice the curious large stone chain that surrounds it to symbolize its belonging to the cathedral.

Junterones Chapel in Murcia Cathedral

Another notable corner of interior of the cathedral of Murcia is Junterones Chapel, a good example of the renaissance architecture in Spain.

La Capilla Mayor, where you can see a neogothic altarpiece, has the consideration of Royal chapel because on one of its sides is the tomb of King Alfonso.

Specifically, his heart and entrails are preserved in the tomb, since this is how the king established it to affirm his love and fidelity to the city of Murcia.

To highlight the grating that closes ahead the Capilla Mayor, which is the original from the 15th century made in Gothic style.

Murcia Cathedral Choir

In front of the aforementioned Capilla Mayor is the cathedral choir, also closed with a similar grille, with an ashlar of plateresque style and whose most outstanding element is its imposing organ.

Installed in the 19th century by order of the Queen isabel II, the actual organ of the cathedral of Murcia It was brought from a convent of San Martín de Valdeiglesias, and has 400 pipes and four keyboards.

In short, the Murcia cathedral It is a great monument that will surely surprise you with the structure of the building built in Gothic style, the bell tower in Renaissance style, an imposing cover in Baroque, and inside, a mix of different styles.

Murcia cathedral schedules

The Murcia Cathedral visiting hours They are, almost all year round, from Tuesday to Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 13 p.m. and from 17 p.m. to 20 p.m., and Mondays, Sundays and holidays, from 7 a.m. to 13 p.m. and from 18 to 20 p.m.

In the summer months of July and August, the hours are Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 13 p.m. and from 18 p.m. to 20 p.m., and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 7 a.m. to 13 p.m. and from 18 p.m. to 21 p.m.

Murcia Cathedral Museum ticket prices

La Entrance to Murcia Cathedral is free, except for visit the museum, which occupies the sacristy and part of the old cloister from the 14th century.

El price of the visit to the Murcia cathedral museum on your own it is 5 euros, reduced rate for children from 7 to 16 years old, seniors +65 and families.

How to climb the Tower of Murcia Cathedral

You also have the option of guided tour of the cathedral and museum one hour long, the price of which is 10 euros, and the guided tour to climb the Cathedral Tower, whose price is 7 euros.

In summer you can also sign up for guided night tours of Murcia Cathedral.

Here you have all the information about the visits to the museum and the Murcia Cathedral Tower.

For our next visit, we still have to climb the cathedral tower and see the panoramic views of the city of Murcia.

Photos Murcia Cathedral

Here you have more photos of the Cathedral of Murcia.