The origins of the Cathedral
In 1229, the church was built on the ruins of a mosque at the behest of Jaume I, who had conquered the island of Mallorca from the Moorish Almohads. But it was not until 1604, 372 years later, that construction was completed.The nave of the cathedral is one of the highest of any Gothic cathedrals in the world, standing at 44 m (144 ft), which is taller than that of Notre Dame at 108 ft (33 m) and Rheims at 38 m (124 ft).Restoration and mix of styles
An earthquake in 1851 severely damaged Palma Cathedral. Repair work was carried out in the neo-Gothic style. In 1901, modernist architect Antoni Gaudí was commissioned to restore the interior and succeeded in adding the chandelier and canopy, as well as moving the choir closer to its altar. However, he left the project in 1914. As a result, the Catalan-Gothic cathedral reflects a mix of styles from different eras.