In 1238, after his defeat of the Muslim rulers of the city, King James I, known as The Conqueror, went to the Great Mosque and, armed with a silver hammer, smashed the walls of the temple to begin the construction of a Christian cathedral. That’s how the legend goes anyway, but legend is all it is, because the work on the new cathedral did not actually begin until 1262, 24 years later, under the architectural direction ofArnaldo Vidal. Several rulers of the kingdom, among them names like Balaguer and Compte, intervened in the construction throughout the years right up until the late 15th century. Over time it took on a Gothic style, highlighted by its lantern tower, the Door of the Apostles facing the Plaza de la Virgen and the bell tower, the so-called Micalet. The final notable addition to the cathedral didn’t arrive until the beginning of the 18th century, that being the dynamic Baroque styled main entrance, which was overseen by the Austrian Konrad Rudolf.