Museum of the Almudena Cathedral

The Almudena Cathedral Museum in Madrid has the mission of preserving, exhibiting, researching, and communicating the history of the Diocese of Madrid. The permanent exhibition consists of objects of religious and historical-artistic value from the former parish of Santa María de la Almudena, the origin of the current cathedral. A visit to the museum begins in the cathedral's rooms: the Chapter House and the Main Sacristy, decorated with modern mosaics by the Slovenian priest, Father Marko I. Rupnik. The second gallery of the Museum displays various objects related to the origin and history of the Church of Madrid, as well as the city's two patron saints: Santa María la Real de la Almudena and San Isidro Labrador. Among these is the valuable Codex of John the Deacon, the oldest document about the life and miracles of San Isidro. After climbing the stairs, you reach the Cathedral's dome, which offers extraordinary views of the city. The second gallery of the Museum explains the liturgy of the Catholic Church in a catechetical way through the seven Sacraments: the Eucharist, Baptism, Penance, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. Finally, a special tribute is paid to Pope John Paul II, who celebrated the consecration mass of the Almudena Cathedral on June 15, 1993, which is reproduced on video. Almudena Cathedral Dome: Only visitors to this museum can access the dome of the Almudena Cathedral, more than 70 meters high, from which one can see the Royal Palace, the entire Plaza de Oriente, the viaduct, and another spectacular dome, that of the Basilica of San Francisco el Grande. The museum gallery (a little lower than the dome, but also at a considerable height) is an exceptional place to see in great detail the Changing of the Royal Guard, which takes place on the first Wednesday of each month, weather permitting, on the palace esplanade.