Domes

Córdoba shares its history with so many cities in Southern Spain. It was Carthaginian and Roman (from 260BC on), later it belonged to the Byzantine Empire for two decade, got looted by the Vandals, before Visigoths conquered it in 572. In 711 it was taken by the by the Umayyad army and became a provincial capital. At that time a Christian church erected by the Visigoths was on the site, it was divided and shared by Muslims and Christians. The sharing agreement lasted until 784, when the Christian half was purchased by the Emir Abd al-Rahman I, who then demolished the church and started to build the grand mosque of Córdoba on its ground. This narrative goes back to the tenth-century historian al-Razi. The work of building the Mezquita employed thousands of artisans and labourers. After the first completion it underwent numerous subsequent changes: Abd al-Rahman II ordered a new minaret, Al-Hakam II enlarged the building and enriched the Mihrab. The Mezquita reached its current dimensions in 987 with the completion of the outer naves and courtyard. It covers an area of more than 23.000 m². The Mezquita still is one of the largest sacred buildings on earth. In the 10th century it was in the center of Cordoba, that with a population of upto 500.000, at that time it was one of the largest cities in the known world.

Córdoba shares its history with so many cities in Southern Spain. It was Carthaginian and Roman (from 260BC on), later it belonged to the Byzantine Empire for two decade, got looted by the Vandals, before Visigoths conquered it in 572. In 711 it was taken by the by the Umayyad army and became a provincial capital. At that time a Christian church erected by the Visigoths was on the site, it was divided and shared by Muslims and Christians. The sharing agreement lasted until 784, when the Christian half was purchased by the Emir Abd al-Rahman I, who then demolished the church and started to build the grand mosque of Córdoba on its ground. This narrative goes back to the tenth-century historian al-Razi. The work of building the Mezquita employed thousands of artisans and labourers. After the first completion it underwent numerous subsequent changes: Abd al-Rahman II ordered a new minaret, Al-Hakam II enlarged the building and enriched the Mihrab. The Mezquita reached its current dimensions in 987 with the completion of the outer naves and courtyard. It covers an area of more than 23.000 m². The Mezquita still is one of the largest sacred buildings on earth. In the 10th century it was in the center of Cordoba, that with a population of upto 500.000, at that time it was one of the largest cities in the known world.

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. Palermo, founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians, became a possession of Carthage and later was part of the Roman Empire. From 831 to 1072 the city was under Arab rule. Following the Norman conquest, Palermo became the capital of a new Kingdom of Sicily and the capital of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Frederick II and King Conrad IV. The Martorana, overlooking the Piazza Bellini, is located next to the "Chiesa de San Cataldo" (right). The church is as well known under the name "Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio" and serves the Italo-Albanian parish of San Nicolò dei Greci, who officiate the liturgy according to the Byzantine Rite in the ancient Greek language. The church was founded by (Syrian) George of Antioch, Ammiratus (Admiral) of Rogers II of Sicily, and built in 1143. Originally it was built over the layout of a Greek cross-in-square, but it has undergone numerous structural changes and additions throughout history. In 1435 the church was annexed to the Benedictine convent of Eloisia Martorana. The interior of the church is breathtaking. During the iconoclasms the Byzantine Iconoclasms (730-850) Byzantine craftsmen and artists settled and worked in the west (eg Ravenna, Rome..). These mosaics were created by these artists. Christ Pantocrator under the dome. Because of its richness, the church was visited, in the late 12th century, by the Arab traveller Ibn Jubayr, who left a detailed description of the church, defined as “the most beautiful monument in the world”.

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status +of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. - Santi Pietro e Paolo d'Agrò is located very remote and not easy to find. The church, one of the foremost examples of Norman architecture on the island, was built in 1116/1117 replacing a 6th century building destroyed in battles between Islamic and Christian rulers. It belonged to a Greek Orthodox Basilian monastery to which Roger II transferred property to finance the reconstruction in 1116. A Greek inscription tells, that the damage caused by the earthquake of 1169 was repaired 1172 by "Gherardo il Franco". The church is about 11 metres wide, 20 metres long and 17 metres high. It is characterised by its block-like form, but the facade is richly decorated. Inside, the church has the plan of a basilica with three aisles. Two domes rise from the central nave, one above its centre and one above the choir. The block-like form is reminiscent of North African architecture while the floor plan is similar to the way churches were built in the Byzantine tradition.

Ancient Novara, which dates to the time of the Ligures and the Celts, was a "municipium", that got its name, by the Romans, when the local Gauls obtained the Roman citizenship. It was destroyed by in 386 by Magnus Maximus, rebuilt by Theodosius I., in 405 sacked by Gothic king Radagaisus and again by Attila in 452. Under the Lombards, Novara became a duchy; under Charles III (aka "Charles the Fat"), emperor of the Carolingian Empire, a countship. In 1110, it was conquered by Henry V and destroyed, but in 1167 it joined the Lombard League. At the end of the 12th century, it accepted the protection of Milan and became practically a dominion of the Visconti and later of the Sforza. In the Battle of Novara in 1513, Swiss mercenaries defending Novara routed the French troops besieging the city. This ended the French invasion of Italy in the "War of the Holy League". Novara was the centre of a bishopric already within the 4th century. A large cathedral was erected within the 11th century. It was demolished in the mid-19th century to make way for the current Neo-Classical structure, built 1863 - 1869. The baptistery was spared from Antonelli´s renovation. It is the earliest Christian monument in Novara, dating back to the early 5th century, built on a side already occupied in Roman times. Standing inside - the dome.

A city named "Hasta" evolved from a Roman camp and received the status of a "municipium" in 49BC. After the fall of the Western Empire and the invasion of the Visigoths, the importance of the city declined. In 774 the Franks conquered Northern Italy and in the late Carolingian age Asti was ruled directly by the bishops, who were the main landlords of the area. The bishopric of Asti remained a powerful entity well into the 11th century, when Pietro II received privileges by emperor Henry II. In the second half of the century, Bishop Otto tried to resist the aims of the powerful countess Adelaide of Susa, who damaged the city several times. During Otto's reign, a commune and the consul magistrates are mentioned for the first time (1095) and make this City-State the first republic of Europe. In 1140 Asti received the right to mint coins of its own by Conrad II. As the commune, however, had begun to erode the lands of the bishop, he sued for help to Frederick Barbarossa, who arrived with a huge army in February 1155. After a short siege, Asti was stormed and burnt. Subsequently, in 1169 Asti adhered to the Lombard League against the Barbarossa, but was again defeated in 1174. The following century Asti saw the peak of economic and cultural splendour, trying to gain control over the trade routes leading northwards from the Ligurian ports. This period resulted in conflicts between Guelph and Ghibelline supporters. During the wars led by Emperor Frederick II the city chose his side. Asti was defeated by the Guelphs, but thanks to Genoese help, it recovered easily. After Frederick's death, the struggle against the Ghibelline House of Savoy became fierce, what after the "Battle of Montebruno" (1255) led to the intervention of Charles I of Anjou, then King of Naples and the most powerful man in Italy. Asti and its allies were victorious over the Angevins at the Battle of Roccavione (1275), ending Charles' attempt to expand in Piedmont. The Collegiate Church of San Secondo, patron saint of the city, is one of the oldest Gothic churches in Asti. According to tradition the church was built on the site of the saint´s martyrdom and burial. The oldest document mentioning the church dates back to 880. Within the 10th century first works to enlarge the church were carried out. In 1256 the chapter of the Canons decreed the beginning of the construction of the present church. Only the Romanesque bell tower remained of the old building. The work continued throughout the century, until the second half of the 14th century. In 1440, the church was completed. Under the crossing dome.

The Cahors Cathedral was erected between 1080 and 1135. It got consecrated by Pope Calixtus II in 1119. The same pope, who two years later could imprison his rival "Antipope" Gregory VIII. Four years later, Calixtus ended the Investiture Controversy by agreeing with Emperor Henry V on the Concordat of Worms. During the times of medieval pilgrimage, this cathedral was an important place on the "Via Podiensis", as the "Sainte Coiffe" could be venerated here. This "Holy Headdress" was believed to have been used during Jesus' burial. Legends tell, that it had been given to the Bishop of Cahors by Charlemagne, but what is more likely it was brought to Cahors by Bishop Gerard de Cardillac after his trip to the Holy Land in 1113. A relic similar to the "Shroud of Turin".. A prominent feature of the cathedral are the two domes over the (a third one collapsed in the 13th century). Here is one. The paintings were coated with plaster and got rediscovered in the 19th century. Seen in the centre is the martyrdom of Saint Steven (Stephanus, Etienne) to whom the church is dedicated.

Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany. The city is one of Germany's 16 federal states. The first records of towns in the area of present-day Berlin date from the late 12th century. The central part of Berlin can be traced back to two towns. Cölln on the Fischerinsel is first mentioned in 1237 and Berlin, across the river Spree in 1244. The two towns over time formed close economic and social ties, and profited from the staple right on the two important trade routes Via Imperii and from Bruges to Novgorod. In 1415, Frederick I became the elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg. His successors established Berlin-Cölln as capital of the margraviate, and subsequent members of the Hohenzollern family ruled in Berlin until 1918, first as electors of Brandenburg, then as kings of Prussia, and eventually as German emperors. The Thirty Years' War between 1618 and 1648 devastated Berlin. The city lost half of its population. Frederick William, known as the "Grosse Kurfürst" initiated a policy of promoting immigration and religious tolerance from 1640 on. In 1685, Frederick William offered asylum to the French Huguenots. By 1700, approximately 30 percent of Berlin's residents were French Huguenots. Other immigrants came from Bohemia and Poland. The Industrial Revolution transformed Berlin during the 19th century; the city's economy and population expanded dramatically, and it became the main railway hub and economic centre of Germany. Additional suburbs soon developed and increased the area and population of Berlin. In 1871, Berlin became the capital of the newly founded German Empire. In 1933 the Nazi Party came to power. After the "Kristallnacht" pogrom in 1938, thousands of the city's Jews were imprisoned in the nearby Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Starting in 1943, many were shipped to death camps, such as Auschwitz. During World War II, large parts of Berlin were destroyed by Allied air raids and the 1945 Battle of Berlin. Around 125,000 civilians were killed. After the end of WWII , by Berlin received large numbers of refugees from the Eastern provinces. The victorious powers divided the city into four sectors, analogous to the occupation zones into which Germany was divided. The sectors of the Western Allies formed West Berlin, while the Soviet sector formed East Berlin. The Berlin Wall was a barrier that divided the city from 1961 to 1989, when it fell. In October 1990, the German reunification process was formally finished. - Potsdamer Platz (Potsdam Square) was a very bustling traffic intersection, that had the first traffic lights in the 1920s. It was the centre of Berlin and the heart of its nightlife. It had acquired an iconic status, just like Piccadilly Circus in London or Times Square in New York. The air raids during WWII turned the whole area into rubble and after the war, the American, British and Soviet Occupation Zones converged there, what made it to a centre of the "Black Market". With the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, the Potsdamer Platz now found itself physically divided in two. It became totally desolate. The remaining damaged buildings were cleared. This was done on the eastern side, to give border guards a clear view and an uninterrupted line of fire. On the western side, an observation platform got erected for tourists to gaze over the Wall at the wilderness beyond. It was a huge, empty, dirty and very strange place. When the Berlin Wall "fell" in November 1989, here the wall was breached to create a new border crossing. In July 1990 Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) performed with numerous artists "The Wall", to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall eight months earlier. The show had a sell-out crowd of over 350,000 people, but just before the concert to gates were opened to allow another 100.000 people in. Then Potsdamer Platz developed Europe's largest building site, creating a cold, futuristic centre of commerce in the centre o Berlin. Part of this is the "Sony Center" that has an interesting dome construction over the large patio.

Napoli is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy. Its metropolitan area has a population of more than 3 million. Founded by Greek settlers before 900 BC, Napoli was an important part of Magna Graecia and played a major role in the merging of Greek and Roman society. Following the decline of the Western Roman Empire Napoli was shortly ruled by the Ostrogoths. Byzantine troops captured the city in 536m but after the Byzantine exarchate Ravenna fell a Duchy of Naples was created. Over centuries the Duchy´s relations to Rome or Byzanz were hard-fought. In 836 Napoli could repel a siege of Lombard troops with the help of the Saracens, what did not prevent Muhammad I Abu 'l-Abbas in the 850s loot Napoli. In the 11th century, the Duchy hired Norman mercenaries and about 1140 it came under Norman control under Roger II, then King of Sicily. In 1228 Emperor Frederick II founded the first university in Europe here, making Napoli the intellectual centre of the kingdom. The conflict between the House of Hohenstaufen and the Papacy led in 1266 to Pope Innocent IV crowning the Angevin duke Charles I King of Sicily. Charles officially moved the capital from Palermo to Napoli. In 1282 after the "Sicilian Vespers", a successful rebellion on the island of Sicily against the rule of King Charles I, the Kingdom of Sicily was divided into two. The Angevin Kingdom of Naples included the southern part of the Italian peninsula, while the island of Sicily became the Aragonese Kingdom of Sicily. By the 17th century, Naples had become Europe's second-largest city – second only to Paris – with around 250000 inhabitants. Galleria Umberto I is a shopping gallery, located across from the San Carlo opera house. The galleria was built 1887–1891 during the rebuilding of Napoli, after cholera had hit Napoli severely in 1884. The time was called the "risanamento". Galleria Umberto I was designed by Emanuele Rocco and is reminiscent of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milano. The giant dome.

Kloster Weltenburg (Weltenburg Abbey) is the oldest abbey in Bavaria, founded about 620 by iro-scottish monks. The abbey is situated on the banks of the Danube, just west of the "Danube Gorge" (aka "Weltenburg Narrows" - "Donaudurchbruch"). Saint Rupert may have consecrated a church here, dedicated to St. George around 700. In 1050 Benedictian monks founded a brewery here, that is still existing (though the abbey got secularised in 1803 and refounded some decades later). The brewery claims, to be the oldest monastery brewery in the world today, even older than the brewery in Weihenstephan. There are not many traces from the early times. During the wars of the 16th/17th century, the abbey was looted a couple of times. Most of the building seen here were erected within the first half of the 18th century in the Baroque style. At that time the abbey was wealthy again and could effort to have the best artists here to work. The famed Asam-Brothers Cosmas Damian and Egid Quirin, acclaimed celebreties of the Baroque time in Bavaria, having an showcase-chapel in Munich, did the interior design of the St. Georg church. This is a jewel for all aficionados of the Baroque style. Here is the large fresco under the oval dome. The fresco was probably done by Egid Quirin Asam, while his brother Cosmas Damian Asam created the stucco around it. Accordingly they added two portaits, one in fresco, one in stucco. I´ll upload a closeup next.

The "Gare de Limoges-Bénédictins" is the main railway station of Limoges. It was named Bénédictins due to the presence of a Benedictine monastery closed during the French Revolution. The first railway line was opened in the 1850s, the wooden station got replaced by a stone-building in 1860. In 1918 an agreement was signed regarding the construction of a new station. Work lasted from 1924 and 1929. The station, a kind of temple of a new age, was designed by architect Roger Gonthier.

Turin is the capital of Piedmont and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The population of the city is about 850.000 while the population of the metropolitan area is estimated at 2.2 million. In the first century BC the Romans founded "Augusta Taurinorum". Turin reached about 5,000 inhabitants at the time, all living inside the high city walls. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the town was conquered by the Ostrogoths and later by the Lombards whose territory in 773 fell into the hands of the Franks under Charlemagne. After the marriage of Adelaide of Susa with Humbert Biancamano's son Otto, the family of the Counts of Savoy gained control. The title of count was held by the Bishop as count of Turin. At the end of the 13th century, when it was annexed to the Duchy of Savoy, the city already had 20,000 inhabitants. Many of the gardens and palaces were built in the 15th century when the city was redesigned. The University of Turin was also founded during this period. The "Basilica of Superga" (officially "Basilica della Natività di Maria Vergine") was built from 1717 to 1731 for Victor Amadeus II of Savoy. This fulfilled a vow the duke had made during the Battle of Turin, after defeating the besieging French army in the War of the Spanish Succession. The church contains the tombs of many princes and kings of the House of Savoy. The architect was Filippo Juvarra (1678 - 1736) one of the main exponents of the Italian Baroque. Under the dome Here are more photos from that region www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/950834

St. Peter's Basilica is part of Vatican City (officially the "State of Vatican City") a walled enclave within the city of Rome. With an area of about 44 hectares, and a population of about 850 it is the smallest state in the world. St. Peter's Basilica of today replaced "Old St. Peter's Basilica", that existed from the 4th to the 16th century, when the construction on the new basilica started. Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in "Old St. Peter" in 800. (New) St. Peter's Basilica, designed principally by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture, completed in 1590. With a capacity of 20,000, it is one of the largest churches worldwide. The interior dimensions of St. Peter's Basilica are just breathtaking.

The place, once inhabited by Celtiberians, was taken by the Romans. In the 8th century, the Arab-Moorish armies advanced into the area and gave it the name Tirwal. In 1171, the Aragonese king Alfonso II conquered Tirwal with the intention of strengthening his kingdom's southern border after the Almohads captured the city of Valencia. He “founded” Teruel and empowered him to facilitate the repopulation of the region. After the inhabitants took part in the conquest of Valencia, Teruel was granted the title of city in 1347 by Pedro IV of Aragon. In the Middle Ages, the Jewish and Mudejar communities gained significant importance in the city's social and economic life. During the Spanish Civil War, the city changed hands several times and was virtually destroyed. The German Junkers Ju-87 dive bombers were used for the first time in the Battle of Teruel. After the final conquest by Franco's troops, the infamous Condor Legion also briefly used the airfield. It is estimated, that the two sides suffered up to 140,000 casualties between them in the three-month battle. Today Teruel is a thriving town with a population of about 36.000. The “Catedral de Santa María de Mediavilla de Teruel” is one of only two cathedrals in Spain that were built in the Mudejar style. Construction of “Santa María de Mediavilla” originally began in 1171 in the Romanesque style. Construction was completed in 1257 after the Mudejar tower was erected. Renovations and expansions were carried out in the same century. The builder Juzaff restructured the Romanesque building in the Mudejar style, which enhanced the Romanesque structure. In the same Gothic-Mudejar style, the Romanesque apses were replaced by others as early as the 14th century. The walls were also raised. In 1423, the Aragonese (Anti)Pope Benedict XIII elevated it to the status of a collegiate church.

According to the Roman historian Titus Livius "Valentia" was founded by Consul Decimus Iunius Brutus Callaicus in the 4th century BC. A century later "Valentia Edetanorum" became one of the first Hispanic cities to become a Roman colony. The city made rapid progress after the Arab conquest in 711, reaching 15,000 inhabitants in the Caliphate of Córdoba. The Amirids and the Dhun Nunids ruled in “Balansiya”. In 1094, El Cid, a Castilian noble, conquered the city. The conquest was not carried out on behalf of one of the Christian kingdoms, but on the Cid's own account, who proclaimed himself "Señor de Valencia" and thus created a kind of private kingdom. He was able to defend the city against several Almoravid attacks, and after his death in 1099, his widow Jimena managed to hold Valencia until 1102, when it fell to the Almoravids, and a little later to the Almohads. After the victory of the united Christian armies over the Almohads in the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212), Moorish Spain fell apart again into individual small kingdoms, including a Taifa from Valencia. It was finally conquered in 1238 by Jaime​ I de Aragón (aka "el Conquistador"), after a five-month siege. In the 15th century, the city grew rapidly and developed into one of the largest Mediterranean ports and an important trade and financial center. At the beginning of the 15th century the city had around 40,000. There was once a Roman temple on the site of the church, which was converted into a Visigothic church after the Muslim conquest and converted into a mosque. After the reconquest in 1237, it became a church again. The construction of the current Gothic-style building began in 1262 and was completed in the 15th century. However, its construction went on for centuries, so there is a mixture of Renaissance, Baroque, and Classicism styles.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Vandals and the Visigoths ruled the area until in 711 the Arabs defeated the troops of Visigoth King Roderic in a battle near Jerez. In 1145 the Almohads conquered the city. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Jerez underwent a period of great development, building its defense system and setting the current street layout of the old town. In 1231 the Battle of Jerez took place. Christian troops under the command of Álvaro Pérez de Castro, grandson of Alfonso VII, defeated the troops of the Emir Ibn Hud. After a month-long siege in 1261, the city surrendered to Castile, but its Muslim population remained. It rebelled and was finally defeated in 1264. Today Jerez de la Frontera has well over 200,000 inhabitants. The cathedral is a 17th-century building that combines Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical styles. The church stands on part of the remains of the original Great Mosque of Jerez and the old 12th-century Iglesia del Salvador, that collapsed due to its dilapidated condition. Jerez Cathedral is an old collegiate church that was elevated to cathedral status by the bull “Archiepiscopus Hispalenses” of March 3, 1980, by John Paul II. The establishment of the monastery goes back to the Christian conquest of Jerez. Throughout its history, it consisted of an abbot and up to ten canons. In 1695, the Collegiate Council began work on a new church. The work lasted more than eighty years.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Vandals and the Visigoths ruled the area until in 711 the Arabs defeated the troops of Visigoth King Roderic in a battle near Jerez. In 1145 the Almohads conquered the city. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Jerez underwent a period of great development, building its defense system and setting the current street layout of the old town. In 1231 the Battle of Jerez took place. Christian troops under the command of Álvaro Pérez de Castro, grandson of Alfonso VII, defeated the troops of the Emir Ibn Hud. After a month-long siege in 1261, the city surrendered to Castile, but its Muslim population remained. It rebelled and was finally defeated in 1264. Today Jerez de la Frontera has well over 200,000 inhabitants. A plaque at the door of San Miguel´s facade is dated 1484. It is believed that the church was commissioned by the Catholic Monarchs when they visited the city in 1484. Its construction, however, would last several centuries resulting in a cathedral-like set with where latest Gothic elements and other ones typical of Renaissance and Baroque.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Vandals and the Visigoths ruled the area until in 711 the Arabs defeated the troops of Visigoth King Roderic in a battle near Jerez. In 1145 the Almohads conquered the city. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Jerez underwent a period of great development, building its defense system and setting the current street layout of the old town. In 1231 the Battle of Jerez took place. Christian troops under the command of Álvaro Pérez de Castro, grandson of Alfonso VII, defeated the troops of the Emir Ibn Hud. After a month-long siege in 1261, the city surrendered to Castile, but its Muslim population remained. It rebelled and was finally defeated in 1264. Today Jerez de la Frontera has well over 200,000 inhabitants. A plaque at the door of San Miguel´s facade is dated 1484. It is believed that the church was commissioned by the Catholic Monarchs when they visited the city in 1484. Its construction, however, would last several centuries resulting in a cathedral-like set with where latest Gothic elements and other ones typical of Renaissance and Baroque.