Legendary (?) erection of see in 91 A. D. First bishop, San Astorgio. First historical bishop, Juan I, in 589. Destruction of see during Arab invasion. See restored, 1100; first bishop, San Pedro de Osma. * * * XIIth century cathedral destroyed in XIIIth century, excepting a few chapels. Erection of new cathedral begun in 1232; terminated, beginning XIVth century. XIIIth century Romanesque-Gothic (not pure). Ambulatory introduced in XVIIth century. * * * Chief attractions: Retablo, reliefs of trasaltar. OVIEDO See dedicated to the Mother and Child. Bishopric erected, 812; first bishop, Adulfo. * * * Until XIIth century cathedral was a basilica; destroyed. Romanesque edifice erected in XIIth century; destroyed 1380. Present edifice begun 1380; completed 1550. XVth century ogival (French?). Decoration of the interior terminated XVIIth century. Tower and spire, XVIth century. Camara Santa dates from XIIth century; a remnant of the early Romanesque edifice. * * * Total length, 218 feet; width, 72 feet. Height of nave, 65 feet; of aisles, 33 feet. Height of tower, 267 feet. * * * Chief attractions: Flèche, decoration of the interior, rosaces in apse, Gothic retablo, cloister, Camara Santa. PALENCIA See dedicated to Mother and Child and San Antolin, martyr. Date of erection unknown; IId or IIId century. One of the earliest bishops, San Toribio. During the Arab invasion city and see completely destroyed. First bishop after Reconquest, Bernardo, in 1035. * * * XVth century florid Gothic building. Erection begun in 1321. Eastern end finished prior to 1400. Century later western end begun on larger scale. Temple completed in 1550. * * * Total length, 405 feet. Width (at transept), 160 feet. Height (of nave), 95 feet. * * * Chief attractions: The ensemble (interior and exterior), Bishop's Door, choir-stalls, trascoro. PLASENCIA Dedicated to the Holy Virgin. Erection of see 12 years after foundation city (1190). First bishop, Domingo; second, Adam; both were warrior prelates. * * * Old cathedral (few remains left) commenced in beginning XIVth century. Partially destroyed to make room for-- New cathedral, commenced in 1498. XVIth century Renaissance-Gothic edifice. Ultra-decorated and ornamented in later centuries. * * * Chief attractions: Choir-stalls, western entrance, decorative motives, sepulchres. SALAMANCA Bishopric existed in Vth century. First known bishop, Eleuterio (589). VIIIth century, devoid of notices concerning see. Xth century, 7 bishops mentioned--living in Leon or Oviedo. XIth century, no news, even name of city forgotten. First bishop _de modernis_, Jeronimo of Valencia (1102). * * * Old cathedral still standing; city possesses therefore two cathedrals. OLD CATHEDRAL Dedicated to St. Mary (Santa Maria de la Sede). In 1152 already in construction; not finished in 1299. XIIth or XIIIth century, Castilian Romanesque with ogival mixture.