Magisterial Church of Sts Just and Pastor

The Cathedral of Alcala de Henares marks the spot where, according to tradition, the child brothers Justus and Pastor were martyred during the Diocletianic Persecution around 304. It is one of only two churches in the world with the title Catedral-Magistral, signifying that all clergy serving there were required to hold a doctorate in theology. The present late-Gothic building was raised at the end of the 15th century under Cardinal Cisneros, the powerful adviser to Queen Isabella who soon afterwards founded the neighbouring University of Alcala. The cathedral was heavily damaged in the Spanish Civil War of 1936 and largely reconstructed after 1939. It forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage "University and Historic Precinct of Alcala de Henares" and stands just a few minutes' walk from the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes.