The Crypt of the Almudena Cathedral (Spanish: Cripta de la Catedral de la Almudena) is a beautiful Roman Catholic temple in Neo-Romanesque style, full of very ostentatious chapels and mausoleums that keep the remains of noble and great figures of the Kingdom of Spain. Built-in the 19th century, it is the oldest part of the Cathedral.
Four historical facts about the crypt:
- After the death of the Queen Mercedes of Orléans on June 26, 1878, King Alfonso XII, her widower, decided to build a temple for the Virgin Mary, also serving as a pantheon for the Queen, as a sign of love for his first wife.
- The crypt began to be built on April 4, 1883, the day on which its first stone was laid.
- On May 30, 1911, it was inaugurated as a parish church.
- In 1993, the crypt was consecrated by Pope John Paul II on his fourth trip to Spain.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means I may make a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you click on one and make a purchase.
Madrid Tours & Activities
Madrid Map
How to use this map
Use your computer mouse to zoom in and out. Click the icon (orange star) on the map to get more information about the place I mention in this post. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your own Google Maps.
Architecture of the Crypt
The crypt is a Neo-Romanesque temple with Byzantine influence and a Latin-cross plan, built according to the design of the Spanish architect Francisco de Cubas (1826–1899). It has the same floor dimensions (102 m/334 ft in length and 73m/239 ft in width) as the cathedral above. There are 9 chapels on the right side and 12 chapels on the left side; all of them are illuminated by stained glass windows, the best in Madrid.
The crypt features 558 columns, each crowned with a different capital with biblical and nature motifs. In its central nave, there are 50 huge columns of 3.28 m/ 10.76 ft high and a perimeter of 2.20 m/ 7.21 ft.










Located beneath the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, the crypt is considered to be the largest and most spectacular crypt not only in the city but also in all Spain.
Address: Calle Mayor 90, 28013 Madrid, Spain
Official website: Cripta de la Almudena
My Amazon Picks
Related Posts
Isabelline Architecture: St. John of the Monarchs Church in Toledo, Spain
Gothic Architecture: St. Mary’s Basilica in Gdansk, Poland
Modern Architecture: Metropol Parasol in Seville, Spain
Neo-Gothic Architecture: The Assumption of Mary Cathedral in Zagreb, Croatia
Renaissance Architecture: Royal Tobacco Factory in Seville, Spain