The Cathedral of Zamora occupies the highest point of the old town ridge and is the city's most important monument. Built primarily in the 12th century and completed around 1174, it is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Spain. The exterior is impressive from any angle, but the distinctive dome — a scaly, Byzantine-inspired structure unlike anything else in Castile — is the element that stays with you.
The interior is large and austere, with a nave of impressive proportions. The cathedral museum houses an outstanding collection of 15th and 16th-century Flemish tapestries — among the best in Spain and largely unknown beyond the specialist. Allow time for the museum; the tapestries alone justify the entry fee. The cathedral is open daily, with slightly reduced hours during services.