On 4 April 1883, King Alfonso XII presided over the ceremony in which the foundation stone was laid for a church that would eventually become the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena. However, this event was not the beginning of the cathedral’s history, but rather one stage in a process that had been taking shape over several centuries.
That April morning in 1883, no one could have imagined the many obstacles that would hinder its construction over the years, including lack of funding and political upheaval. More than a century would pass from that foundation stone before the Almudena Cathedral became a reality, turning into a symbol of the city and of the history of Spain — a testament to perseverance and faith that endures to this day.