San Pedro Co-Cathedral in Soria
The Concatedral de San Pedro is one of the most important and oldest monuments in Soria. It is a Romanesque church, built in the 12th century AD on the site of an earlier Visigothic temple. Since 1959, it has been a Co-Cathedral, meaning it shares the bishop’s seat with El Burgo de Osma. It is also a place of worship for the patron saint of Soria, St. Saturio, whose hermitage is administered by the canons of the Co-Cathedral. In 1980, it was declared a national monument.
The exterior of the church features a southern facade, adorned with stylish Plateresque elements. In the center, there is a niche with a sculpture of St. Peter with the keys to the church. Above it, the coat of arms of the bishop of Osma-Soria is displayed. On both sides of the portal, there are two towers, one of which is unfinished. On the western facade, there is the Puerta Santa, much simpler than the southern one, which was the main entrance to the church in the Middle Ages when the Plaza San Pedro was the main square of the city.
The interior of the church has a hall plan, with three naves divided into five bays, covered with starry vaults, supported by powerful cylindrical pillars. The presbytery is polygonal, with a beautiful main altar from the 18th century, depicting scenes from the life of St. Peter.
The church houses many chapels, dedicated to various saints and patrons. Among them, the chapel of St. Saturio, built on the site of the former chapter house, and the chapel of St. Nicholas, with a retable, stand out.
One of the most valuable elements of the Co-Cathedral is the Romanesque cloister, connected to the church by a door, which separates the Romanesque style from the Gothic. The cloister was built in the 12th century AD for the Augustinian canons, who served in the church. It consists of four wings, each with six arcades, supported by double columns with richly carved capitals. In the cloister, you can admire over 300 sculptures, depicting people, animals, plants, and religious symbols. Some of them are very original and humorous, like the one depicting two monks drinking from a wineskin. The cloister is a true masterpiece of Romanesque art and a testament to the faith and culture of medieval Soria.
Therefore, the Concatedral de San Pedro is not only an architectural monument but also a place of spirituality and history. In its walls, you can feel the presence of many generations who prayed, worked, and created in this holy place.
