La Catedral is a stylish Café Bar and Restaurant, tucked away behind the Roman Theatre Museum in Cartagena.
It skilfully combines it´s historical heritage with a chic, modern feel, and has some fascinating features such as a glass floor, which enable visitors to see original remains of Roman Cartagena beneath their feet.
The building itself is at the foot of the historical Cathedral of Cartagena, a building which is due to undergo renovation within the next few months after being virtually destroyed during the Civil war, and which is entwined with the Roman Theatre itself.
( Click for detail, Cartagena Cathedral.)
During the course of occupation by Romans, Visigoths, Arabs and the Catholic Kings of Spain, various structures became intertwined as layers formed with buildings built on the remains of other buildings and architectural materials re-used for the construction of new structures, so visitors to the Roman Theatre Museum pass through beneath the ruins of the former Cathedral, following a journey from the 21st century through to the Roman Theatre itself.
This building which now houses La Catedral, is also intertwined with this Roman history, one of the walls being the original walls of the Roman Theatre itself, and the building containing several original Roman columns, as well as an 18th century storage aljibe.
The whole structure has been lovingly restored by owner, Pablo Cerezuela, who first worked in the bar at the age of 17, then purchased the building at the age of 30. It took 9 years of painstaking work to restore the building and the new look La Catedral was finally opened early in 2011.
Attention to detail is painstaking, every original feature highlighted and lit, with mosaic flooring in the basement bar and original brickwork and ironwork exposed and cleaned in the main restaurant area.
A full range of options are available to visitors, from a simple coffee and tosta for breakfast, to an evening cocktail or drink in the downstairs bar, with the premises open from 12 midday until very late.
Main meals are A la Carte, and diners can expect to pay 35-40 euros for a 3 course meal.
Meat and fish dishes are beautifully presented and well cooked, with an imaginative menu including octopus stuffed with prawns and mushrooms, trumpets of artichokes and foie, and tuna sashimi, together with a range of steaks and sauces.
The restaurant has an extensive winelist and beverages options.
One of the most interesting details about this premises is that it´s just a minutes walk from the main Plaza del Ayuntamiento in Cartagena and the entrance to the Roman Theatre Museum, ( Click Roman Theatre Museum) yet is out of sight off the main tourist drag, so is discovered only by those few expat visitors in the know.
It´s also extremely popular with locals, and is always a hub of activity during the Festivals and Fiestas taking place in the City, particularly during the summer when the outside terrace area is busy with those seeking an open air environment.
La Catedral
Plaza Conesa de Peralta
Cartagena
Telephone 868 066 558
www.lacatedralcartagena.com
To reach La Catedral from the Roman Theatre Museum, turn right up the side of the theatre museum building. At the end of the road, turn left and then immediately right and you´ll see La Catedral in front of you.
Opening Hours:
12 noon till late, Tuesday to Sunday .
Click here for full La Catedral Restaurant information.
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