Bishop's seat

Fortunately an act of god in 1356 cleared the site of the mosque with an earthquake leaving room for a new christian cathedral to be built in 1410.
Unfortunately, another act of god caused the pillars of the church to collaps 5 years later, so the foundations of the one that exists today were laid in 1410.
In 1565 the perimeter of the grounds was surrounded by chains supported on small pillars. This was to prevent the merchants from entering the building on horseback during inclement weather.
It also demarcated the boundary between civil and secular authority. Jump the chain and your safe. The idea of a church offering sanctuary, like privacy in the confessional, has of course dissipated.
The idea was to build a church "so beautiful and so great that those who see it will think we were mad." So they did: and so they were.Read more