The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist stands out as one of the city’s most iconic cultural and heritage sites. Located in the heart of Albacete, next to the Plaza de la Virgen de los Llanos, this cathedral showcases the history, art, and soul of the city.
Its construction began in the 16th century on the site of a Mudéjar church, and over time has incorporated architectural styles: Neo-Gothic and Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neo-Romanesque, forming a harmonious and monumental ensemble.
The great treasure of its interior is the impressive mural, the work of the priest and artist Casimiro Escribá. This huge painting, done in oil on canvas, covers an area of almost 1,000 square metres and is considered the largest canvas in the world painted by a single artist.
Although many believe they are frescoes, this is not the case. And the most fascinating part is that the work is full of details that are difficult to notice without a guided tour. Among the religious scenes, one can find modern nods such as an igloo, New York skyscrapers, Bombay’s Tower of Silence, and even the arteries of the Corpus Christi. In the chapel of the Descent from the Cross, Escribá himself discreetly painted a self-portrait dressed in a cassock.
The Cathedral is also the perfect starting point for exploring Albacete’s historic centre and enjoying its rich cultural offerings.
